The splendor and history of diamonds has been appreciated and treasured for centuries after their discovery 3000 years ago. Over the next thousand years, diamonds continued to make their mark on history. This module provides a timeline on the evolution of diamonds, from formation and global discovery to their modern significance.
Let us begin at the start, with the formation of diamonds between 1 and 3 billion years ago. Research reveals the oldest, as well as the youngest, diamonds in the world can be found in Canada.
The formation of a natural diamond requires very specific conditions within the Earth.
Upon their first discovery, diamonds were highly valued because of their unparalleled strength, brilliance, and ability to refract light, conduct heat, and engrave metal. Such properties had never been seen.
In the Middle Ages (between the 5th and 15th century), diamonds were thought to have exceptional healing abilities and considered to be a “miracle stone”. They were believed to have the ability to cure stomachaches, memory loss, depression, fatigue, infections, mental illnesses, nightmares, skin diseases and other head and heart ailments.
In the past, wedding rings signified a promise or contract between a couple and their two families. They were also tokens or even security deposits that showed a man’s promise was “good as gold”.
The story of the modern diamond really begins in about 300 BCE when they first appeared in Europe.
