Diamonds

Diamonds were formed deep within the earth, between 140 and 800 kilometers deep, through a combination of extreme pressure and temperatures of 1,000 degrees Celsius. After a process of "crystallization" lasting several million years, this unique combination transformed the common chemical element, carbon, into diamonds.

This natural miracle occurred billions of years ago, long before the emergence of any form of life on earth.

Much later, 300 to 400 million years ago, powerful volcanic eruptions brought up a very small number of intact diamonds to the earth's surface.

Did you know?

The Earth stopped creating diamonds 900 million years ago.

In every diamond, there are more or less visible traces that testify to its formation process and give it its unique character. Like the iris of an eye, there simply are not two identical diamonds.

The vast majority of extracted diamonds are very small in size and contain multiple inclusions that are in a way their identity card. Less than 20% of diamonds weigh more than 0.2 carats and less than 5% weigh more than one carat.

Beyond its characteristics, the diamond is also unique because of the connection it has with the person who will wear it, the unique circumstances in which it will be received, and the emotions that will forever be attached to it.

Did you know?

Etymologically, the word diamond comes from the Greek "Adamas" which means invincible. The natural cut diamond is the stone that reflects light the most, giving it its incomparable brilliance. It is also the hardest stone: 140 times harder than sapphire, 180 times harder than emerald. Its natural properties make it unalterable, and therefore eternal.

Diamonds were discovered less than 3,000 years ago in India. In the 1st century, the Chinese used them to cut jade. The ancient Greeks saw in the diamond the tears of the gods or stardust. It was long attributed with divine protection powers or even medicinal properties. It was even considered in India as an elixir of longevity.

From the 15th century, the diamond became a symbol of love and was finally worn by women. The diamond thus became established worldwide as the stone of marriage, then engagement, until it simply became "a girl's best friend."

Today, the diamond embodies the sincerity and strength of love. Because it is authentic, precious, and unique, it remains the ultimate symbol to celebrate life's rarest moments and most precious bonds. Each diamond tells a story, each time the most beautiful of all, the most precious: yours.

Did you know?

In 1477, Marie of Burgundy was the first to receive a diamond wedding ring from Maximilian of Habsburg.

The 4 Cs or how to codify the value of a diamond

The 4 Cs are an internationally recognized system for grading diamonds. This system determines their monetary value according to objective criteria.

Carat or the weight of the diamond: 1 carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams and is divided into 100 points or hundredths.

Clarity or purity: Except for rare exceptions, all diamonds have natural inclusions that occur during the crystallization process. Their number and visibility determine the purity of a diamond.

Color or the color: White diamonds are extremely rare in their natural state and generally have a slight hue. Even though they are exceedingly rare, diamonds exist in many colors, the rarest being red.

Cut or the cut: This is the only criterion that results from the work and expertise of humans, and undoubtedly the most important because the brilliance of a stone depends on the quality of the cut work.

Did you know? The word carat comes from the carob tree, whose seed invariably weighs 0.2 grams and was once used as a standard measure to calibrate diamonds.