How Diamonds Are Made

5 days ago

Diamonds form deep underground under extreme pressure and temperature, brought to the surface via kimberlite pipes during magma eruptions.
Only about 1 in 200 kimberlite pipes contain gem-quality diamonds, with most natural diamonds being 1 to 3.5 billion years old.
Exploration uses magnetic surveys, LiDAR, and drilling to locate kimberlite pipes; mining involves explosives and heavy machinery, as diamonds survive blasts due to their hardness.
Rough diamonds are cleaned with sulfuric acid, sorted into gem or industrial grades, and traded globally, with 80% of rough diamonds handled in Antwerp, Belgium.
Around 91% of the world's diamonds are polished in Surat, India, where artisans use multi-stage planning and polishing on diamond wheels, often requiring meticulous, repetitive work.
Polished diamonds are graded by independent labs based on the 4Cs (Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat), laser-inscribed with a unique ID for authenticity, and priced via the Rapaport Price List before reaching jewelers.

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