| There are perhaps no two substances more | | | | diamonds is subjected to pressures of up |
| different visually or symbolically than | | | | to 882,000 pounds per square inch - over |
| diamonds and lumps of coal. However, | | | | 440 tons. Furthermore, the temperatures |
| diamonds and coal are virtually | | | | that cause this transformation into |
| identical from a chemical and geological | | | | white and colored diamonds is over 800 |
| standpoint. The important difference is | | | | hotter than the furnaces that are |
| that the former are not only pleasing to | | | | required in the melting and manufacture |
| the eye and symbolic as jewelry, they | | | | of steel. |
| are an excellent investment - and useful | | | | Such temperatures and pressures only |
| in industrial machinery as well. | | | | occur naturally deep under the earth's |
| Of course, gem grade stones are quite | | | | surface - so deep that even the deepest |
| different - and far more valuable - than | | | | diamond mines can only reach these |
| industrial grade. In fact, four fifths | | | | precious stones that have been brought |
| of all that are mined are deemed | | | | close to the surface through tremendous |
| unsuitable for diamond jewelry, and thus | | | | geological activity. This is one reason |
| are used for industrial applications - | | | | that they are found primarily in the |
| primarily in activities that require | | | | Great Rift Valley of Africa and in the |
| cutting, drilling, grinding and | | | | Himalayan foothills where the Indian |
| polishing. | | | | subcontinent plows into Asia. |
| Since the 1950s, scientists have | | | | These conditions have been replicable in |
| actually been able to manufacture | | | | the laboratory for over half a century; |
| artificial diamonds in laboratories as | | | | however, natural and artificial diamonds |
| well. This has to do with the similarity | | | | each have their own unique flaws, which |
| between these and coal, the difference | | | | are detectable by trained, professional |
| between which is more of degree than | | | | gemologists. |
| process. Both are made of carbon that | | | | One difference has to do with color as |
| has been subjected to heat and pressure. | | | | well; natural colored diamonds are not |
| What happens is that diamonds are | | | | terribly uncommon, and come in a wide |
| subject to much greater amounts of both | | | | range of hues. Some of these color |
| - as much as 60,000 times that of normal | | | | variations can add tremendous value to a |
| air pressure at sea level, and up to | | | | gem. Loose diamonds made artificially |
| 2300 degrees Fahrenheit. | | | | are almost always of the white variety; |
| To put this into perspective, the | | | | colored stones make up only one in every |
| pressure of the air we live in is about | | | | ten thousand. When purchasing loose |
| 14.7 pounds per square inch. At 1083 | | | | diamonds whether as an investment or for |
| feet below the sea's surface (the | | | | use in jewelry, make sure that such |
| current scuba diving record), the | | | | diamonds have been certified by an |
| pressure is over 482 pounds per square | | | | independent gemology professional. |
| inch. Carbon that is transformed into | | | | |