subject: The Many Important Uses Of Diamonds [print this page] Diamond is regarded as the toughest or hardest natural rock material on the planet. Because of this property, it has been used in several modern-day industries other than being used as a form of ornament. They are currently of high demand in the worldwide market, which prompts sellers to price them very competitively.
The Uses of Diamonds
Much to the surprise of many, only about 20% to 25% of diamonds are intended for use in jewelry. The rest are for industrial purposes. Those that are utilized as gemstones that were meticulously cut are very expensive and precious to the eyes of most, if not all individuals. As such, it is also regarded as portable money. They have lustrous surfaces that make them shine when exposed to light.
Most man-made diamonds are meant to become drill bits, saws and other cutting equipment. Diamond-tipped tools are very good for cutting hard metallic elements and other tough objects. A diamond can only be cut by another diamond nonetheless. Even the openings of x-rays, vacuum chambers and lasers are covered with diamond windows. In the realm of music, video disc needles and phonographs use diamonds. Micro-bearings within laboratory mechanical devices and watches also use the same type of material. Because of its resilience to heat, diamond is also used as a heat conductor in microelectronics. Similarly, your computer processors and microchips are coated with diamonds so that they can conduct electricity much more effectively.
Carat, Cut, Clarity and Color of Diamonds
If you want to buy one as a mere accessory, you should understand that smart diamond buyers always look and assess the 4 C's in diamond quality. They first consider the carat (which is equal to 0.2 gram) of the rock. This characteristic is synonymous to the weight of the diamond. The biggest diamond ever recorded in history is the Cullinan Diamond from South Africa. It weighs an astonishing 3,106 carats. Other large diamonds are the Kohinoor, Hope and Uncle Sam diamonds.
Secondly, this rock is usually cut into four common shapes namely emerald, pear, brilliant and marquise. Especially when talking about jewelry, the fine cutting technique also affects the price of the rock.
Thirdly, diamonds can also be classified as either pure or flawed depending on its clarity. Although miners can find several pieces of this precious rock in a year's time, the chances of finding a pure diamond are quite low. Lastly, the color is also a point of consideration among some jewelry buyers. White, brown and yellow-colored diamonds are the most abundant. Other rarer colors include red, blue, purple, orange, black and green. These unusual colors make them quite popular. To add these rare rocks are usually bright, which further amplifies its value.
