How rare do you think diamonds actually are?

1. 72

   cjcarterposted 13 years ago

   How rare do you think diamonds actually are?
   
   Or is the diamond market just controlled to let certain amounts of diamonds out onto the market to keep prices high?

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2. 62

   ChristineVianelloposted 13 years ago

   That depends on its cut, color and clarity. It is semi confusing how much really there is to know about diamonds.

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3. 68

   Torch Harrisonposted 13 years ago

   That depends on the diamond. 
   
   Yes the diamond market does control how many white stones are on the market, mostly mid-grade stones.  Keep in mind that many diamond mines are located in areas that are difficult to get to or in places of the world where wars are all too frequent.
   
   But there are other diamonds, fancies, which are extremely valuable because of their rarity. Fancy diamonds come in many beautiful colors-yellow, orange, brown, purple, black, pink, blue, green and red.  Those are not controlled because they are so rare and highly collectible.  When the World Trade Center was destroyed on 9/11, a collection of orange diamonds was lost in the disaster.
   
   Contemporary jewelry-grade diamonds, such as the ones you'd find in most commercial jewelry, are not rare.  But diamonds that have no flaws and are of considerable size (over 10 carats) are so rare that few have ever seen such a stone, much less purchased one.
   
   One reason diamonds appear to be more available and less rare is the explosion of lab-created stones on the jewelry markets.  These non-natural stones are considered less valuable because of how they're made.  It's difficult for the layperson to know if the stone in their jewelry is natural or lab-created.  In some cases, jewelers have been known to replace good quality natural stones with lab-created ones.

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4. 55

   PETER LUMETTAposted 13 years ago

   Diamonds are maybe one of the most prolific gems in the world. De Beers controls the world diamond market, it is a monopoly in every sense of the word. I would estimate there are enough diamonds in their vaults for every man, woman and child in the world to have one. They are a remarkable mineral and very beautiful when cut right but there are millions and millions of them. So rare is not a word I would use ro describe "diamonds".

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5. 0

   paxwillposted 12 years ago

   Peter Lumetta is right, and I was told the same thing by a woman who worked for DeBeers in Africa. 
   
   Diamonds are valuable in manufacturing since they are the hardest (or one of the hardest) materials on earth.  If the were so rare, they wouldn't be wasted on something as trivial as sparkly jewelry.

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6. 48

   jackdohsonposted 12 years ago

   According to the Quantum International Diamonds, a true miracle of nature, diamonds are thought to be between 70 million and 3 billion years old with the name ‘diamond’  being derived from the ancient Greek word ‘adamas’, meaning ‘invincible’.  Throughout time, diamonds have been hugely prized, being seen as symbols of love, power and wealth.

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