Diamonds

Diamonds are precious stones. They are actually carbon crystals. They are much valued for their hardness but more their ability to refract light, making them look very pretty indeed. Diamonds are also very expensive and a tiny one can cost hundreds of ringgit.

Diamonds are usually mined from the earth. The rough diamonds have to be cut before they are sold. It is the cutting of the diamond that gives the stone its price. Nowadays diamonds can be made but these synthetic diamonds are not as valuable as the natural ones.

The weight of diamonds and other precious stones are measured in carats. A carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams (0.007 oz). The largest single diamond ever found is the Cullinan. It weighed 3,106 carat. It was found in South Africa. Another famous diamond, the blue Hope diamond weighs 44.5 carat.

The city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands is known as the 'City of Diamonds', for much of the world's diamonds are cut there.

The diamond is one of the hardest substance known to man. Thus it is used widely for cutting other materials and as an abrasive as well as its more well-known role of being a woman's best friend.