Facts about Diamonds

1. 07

   Over 250 million carats of diamonds are mined annually worldwide, with Russia and Botswana accounting for approximately 60 percent of global production.

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2. 06

   Diamonds rank 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, the highest rating, making them 1,600 times harder than the next hardest natural mineral, corundum.

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3. 05

   Diamonds conduct heat five times better than copper, making them the most thermally conductive natural material known to science.

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4. 04

   The Kimberly Process, established in 2003, certifies that 99.8 percent of diamonds in the global market originate from conflict-free sources through rigorous tracking and verification systems.

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5. 03

   Lab-created diamonds reached commercial viability in 1954 when General Electric produced the first synthetic diamond using extreme pressure and heat technology.

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6. 02

   Extreme pressure and temperature deep within Earth's mantle transform carbon atoms into diamonds over billions of years through a process beginning roughly 100 miles beneath the surface.

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7. 01

   At 10.73 carats, the Hope Diamond housed in the Smithsonian Institution remains one of the world's most famous gemstones since its acquisition in 1958.

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