A diamond is much more than a nice, expensive rock that is used to make nice, expensive jewelry. They are made of carbon; in fact, they are the second most stable form of carbon, after graphite. Diamonds are ideal for jewelry because they are difficult to scratch; They are the hardest natural mineral known to man.

A diamond can only be created when carbon molecules are put under high pressure in an area of ​​high temperature (although the temperature is comparatively cold, considering where the location is). There are only two places on all of Earth that meet these conditions: the lithospheric mantle (which lies beneath stable continental plates) and at the site of a meteorite collision.

The diamonds found in impact craters are very small and are called microdiamonds or nanodiamonds. These diamonds would probably not qualify as GIA diamond rings, due to their size. These tiny diamonds can form because a space debris collision typically results in extreme pressure and temperatures.

Both diamonds and graphite are known as allotropes of carbon. An allotrope is a substance created by a certain behavior of a certain chemical element, which means that the atoms are bonded differently than normal. This is like an isotope, which is an atom of a chemical element that has a different number of neutrons.

These stones may be very rare on Earth, but on other planets where conditions are more extreme, they may be quite common. On Neptune, for example, the atmospheric pressure is such that the carbon molecules are forced into the correct formation to form a diamond. It is theorized that there may be tiny diamond crystals suspended in the atmosphere itself. This atmosphere would be a dream for someone looking for better value diamonds or a cheap engagement ring!

On Earth, diamonds are brought closer to the surface through volcanic activity, but there are some diamonds on Earth that are believed to have been brought here by asteroid impacts. These are not formed from the impacts themselves. Diamonds in space form from supernovae and in white dwarf stars, which have crystallized carbon and oxygen cores. One of those stones has been located floating in space; it has been confirmed to be a diamond and is 2500 miles wide.

The different colors in diamonds are caused by certain impurities. For example, the most common colors found are yellow and brown, which is caused by nitrogen. The green color is caused by irradiation, while the pink and red (as well as some brown) are caused by physical deformation (also known as plastic deformation). Black diamonds are considered ‘carbonado’ diamonds; whose origin is still unknown. There are several hypotheses about how they were formed; however, as of 2008, neither of these were accepted. These are found in South America and Africa, but are not normally non-conflict diamonds unless they have passed the Kimberley Process Certification.

These stones, when properly cut, put on a beautiful brilliant display due to their many facets. As with a prism, white light striking a diamond is refracted, separating it into the colors that make up the visible spectrum. This is why diamonds in jewelry shine in many different colors, even though they appear clear.