Fun Facts About Diamonds
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Less than 20 percent of the diamonds mined worldwide are gem quality diamonds. The rest are industrial grade, and for computers and factory applications
The term "carat" originates from the carob seed, which early gem traders used as counterweights in balance scales. The modern metric carat was first adopted by the United States in 1913; now, a carat has a uniform weight throughout the world.
According to About.com, the average cost for an engagement ring is $3,500 to $5,000 for a one-carat stone in an 18-karat gold or platinum setting.
In 2007, a 2.26-ct purplish red diamond ring sold for $2.6 million (about $1.15 million per carat).
Pink and blue are the most rare colored diamonds; yellow and brown are the most common.
It takes heat of 1292 degrees Fahrenheit to burn a diamond.
(Fun fact information from the GIA website, www.gia.edu, unless otherwise noted.)
Originally Published: February 1, 2010
