SELF|WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

Diamonds Get A Make-Over To Make Them Environment Friendly

The new lab diamonds are magnificent for sustainable living and saving the ecosystem

Little efforts go a big way to save the planet! The diamond industry has gone for a makeover from natural diamonds to lab diamonds. They are as pure as natural diamonds and are certified through certain tests.-Preeti Singh

Diamonds are special

What is special about diamonds?

The word diamond is derived from the Greek word “Adamas,”. It means invincible or indestructible.

Diamonds are historically very significant in the lives of people. The Romans and Greeks had the belief that diamonds were related to gods. They were considered to be the tears of gods.

Another belief was that they were splintered from falling stars because of their brilliance and dazzle.

A view was also that diamonds were connected to romance and love and that cupid’s arrow was tipped with diamonds.

Queen Elizabeth wears a Kohinoor (diamond) in her crown. It is said that whoever wears the Kohinoor will rule the world.

The Ancient Hindu temples studded the eyes of the god's statues in diamonds, as they believed that a diamond helped in protecting a person from danger.

In the olden days, many warriors also wore diamond studs, as it was a sign of courage and strength when they went to wars.

The show of strength of kings used to be through their diamond-studded armors.

Diamonds were first linked to romantic presents when Archduke Maxmillian of Austria first presented a diamond engagement ring in 1477, to Mary of Burgundy with an M studied with diamonds.

Where are diamonds found?

Where do we get diamonds from?

Let us find out where we get diamonds from?

They are rare, like gold and silver, and this is why they are very valuable. They are found under the earth’s surface from carbon. The carbon changes into sparkling diamonds with extreme heat and pressure.

In geological terms, diamonds are found in the shape of pipes and kimberlites, which are pipe-like formations and are created through volcanic and tectonic activity.

The discovery of diamonds is from mines in India. They were found 2,400 years ago. Africa, Russia, Australia, and Canada produce the most diamonds now. However, there are a lot of claims that they were first found in some other country. This is all debatable.

Diamonds are very attractive and are a hard substance. Diamonds are mined from Open-pits like the Kimberley Big Hole which is very famous.

It consists of removing the layers of sand and rock. It is then blasted and the ore in the pit is broken. The procedure is not complete, as it has to be loaded and transported to a primary ore crusher. There the diamond extraction takes place.

How does the mining of diamonds affect the ecosystem?

Who does not love diamonds?

They shine and glitter all the way.

What is the connection between diamonds and the environment?

Diamonds from mines are eroding the, and diamond mining creates some negative impacts on the environment.

• One of the major problems of diamond mining is that it affects the soil in a manner that there is a high degree of soil erosion.
• Another effect is that trees have to be cut in the area where diamonds are mined leading to deforestation. The result is that there is ecosystem destruction.
• The soil, water, and air around a mine become polluted. The soil has to be removed in bulk quantities and this affects the shoreline and reduces the natural land resources.
• A diamond mine also reduces the natural habitat of animals, reducing the wildlife population.
• The energy resources like diesel, electricity, and hydrocarbons create greenhouse gases and harmful carbon in the air.
• The chemicals used in diamond mining cause smog and have an effect on climate change, and many environmental problems.

. “The single biggest threat to our planet is the destruction of habitat and along the way loss of precious wildlife. We need to reach a balance where people, habitat, and wildlife can co-exist — if we don’t everyone loses … one day.” — Steve Irwin

The makeover of diamonds.

Natural diamonds to lab-grown diamonds to save the earth. Diamonds will have a makeover to save the planet. Many companies that sell diamonds have declared that they will not sell mined natural diamonds and will replace them with lab-grown diamonds because it is harmful to the environment we live in.

Lab-grown diamonds are environmentally friendly. India plans to make and trade lab-grown diamonds in Surat in a big way.

It is said that lab-grown diamonds are made in the same way as a test-tube baby. It is made under the heat and pressure of the earth's crust but inside a lab. They are not mined. They are environment friendly.

A lab diamond is a genuine diamond, and it is called a cultured diamond. It is certified as a diamond and it is brilliant and dazzles like a diamond.

The lab-grown diamonds are man-made, in a laboratory where there is controlled heat.

These lab diamonds comprise actual carbon atoms that are arranged in the characteristic diamond crystal structure. They are made of the same material as natural diamonds; they have the same optical and chemical properties.

The lab diamonds are available in fancy colors and shapes and are in huge demand. The jewelers buy them back at full price but it is difficult to say if the price increases over time.

Lab diamonds must be distinguished from cubic zirconia which is of much lessor price.

Lab diamonds are created through two different processes. High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD).

HPHT diamonds are made through any of the three manufacturing processes: a belt press, the cubic press, and the split-sphere (BARS) press.

These are made through high pressure and temperature that are conducive to diamond growth into carbon. The pure carbon melts forms a diamond around the starter seed. Then it is cooled to form a pure diamond.

A CVD diamond starts its life as a thin slice of diamond seed, The diamond seed is placed in a sealed chamber and heated to around 800 degrees Celsius. It forms into a pure diamond.

To conclude,

I would like to share with you that lab diamonds are real diamonds but other stones are also available and they are not diamonds

I walked into a small market close to my house. He showed me beautiful, big stones that looked just like diamonds. It was far more reasonable than what I would buy at a diamond store.

My cousin insisted that I should buy it. I took a jeweler friend; he saw it and told me it was a Moissanite. A Moissanite is not the same thing as a diamond. It looks just like a diamond but please do not buy it thinking it is a diamond.

Similarly, Cubic Zirconia is much cheaper than a diamond.It does not have the same chemical and physical properties as natural diamonds

The prices of Moissanite and Zirconia are much lower than diamonds. Zirconia is even lower priced than Moissanite.

Lab-created diamonds are graded and certified using the same process as mined diamonds.

The diamonds have had a makeover, and it is to save the earth. One effort to make the environment sustainable, good to live in with no side effects of climate change or environmental degradation.

“It is our collective and individual responsibility … to preserve and tend to the world in which we all live.” — Dalai Lama

World Environment Day is on June 5th. Let us celebrate. Please do join me in making an effort to save the planet and create a healthy living for everyone.🙏🙏 We work together; we live together in this world.