The Appeal of Diamonds

Throughout mankind's history, diamonds have stood for power, prestige, courage, devotion, invincibility, love and lust.

But in reality, diamonds are merely rocks, a mineral gem made up of simple carbon crystals that have formed inside the Earth for thousands and millions of years.

So what is it about this precious gem that makes it stand above the rubies, emeralds, sapphires and other precious stones of the world?

Diamonds used to be rare. It was only through recent technology and discovery of diamond mines in Africa has it been marketed as a global commercial item.

But there was a time when any diamond that was mined and crafted was reserved only for the king. Saint Louis IX of France had even made a sumptuary law that made it so.

Today though, ever since the discovery of diamond mines in Africa, diamonds are not so rare, but still coveted and sold throughout the world because of its beauty and worth.

During the 1800s, diamond prospectors found huge deposits of diamonds in southern and central Africa.

One particular area in South Africa was Kimberly, and because of the enormous amount of diamond deposits found here, these mines became to be known as kimberlites.

This sudden explosion in the supply of diamonds flooded the market when thousand of prospects came to mine the kimberlites. This made diamond prices plummet from 500 dollars to ten cents a carat.

The diamond market came to a sudden turn when a young man named Cecil Rhodes entered the scene. Rhodes, who would later help build British colonial Africa, saw an opportunity and formed the De Beers Mining Company that pooled together diamond miners and prospectors to control the supply.

With this cartel of diamond producers, Rhodes was able to control and dictate the market, preventing too much diamonds from entering the market and lowering prices.

By manipulating the diamond supply and demand, De Beers became the most successful cartel in the 20th century.

Today, the De Beers Corporation owns and controls an estimated 90 percent of the world's supply of uncut or rough diamonds.

Because of the success of De Beers in controlling the industry, diamonds have actually thrived and its being precious and its worth have been preserved. And until today, the reputation and mystique of diamonds are known worldwide.

It is called the king of gems, and its universal appeal makes it expensive and coveted. What woman does not want to own diamond jewelry?

What man has not been loved all the more because of a diamond engagement ring or a pair of diamond earrings given to a ladylove as a gift?

Modern technology and discovery might have made the diamond more accessible and less rare, but that has not diminished its prestige or mankind's fascination with it.

History has dictated events that have made the diamond the precious gem as it is known today and we can only follow the examples of better people before us and fall in love with its brilliance and beauty.