Diamonds are known for their high hardness combined with visual and aesthetic characteristics. The hardness of a diamond is determined by its crystalline structure, in which each carbon atom is bonded to other carbon atoms. This makes diamond an incredibly strong and hard material, allowing it to be used in various fields, including jewelry, industrial applications, and new technologies.
Black diamonds come in different shades: besides jet black, they can be shades of dark cognac, graphite, or asphalt colors.
The emergence of black diamonds is caused by several reasons: partial changes in the crystalline structure, in opaque black diamonds there is a high content of micro particles of graphite and amorphous carbon, invisible even under high magnification, in transparent black diamonds – a higher concentration of nitrogen ions. The bluish-black tint is given by a specific mineral – magnetite, which also has magnetic properties.
Research into the cause of color in black diamonds is relatively recent. Today we know that most naturally colored black diamonds get their color from large quantities or clouds of minute mineral inclusions such as graphite, pyrite or hematite that extend throughout the stone.
Black diamonds reflect light only through their facets. Many black diamonds have a distinct sparkle.
Another characteristic of some varieties of black diamonds is their matte opacity, which is just as mesmerizing as the sparkle and shine of the facets of other diamonds.
Black diamonds, with their captivating allure and mysterious origins, have been sought after by miners and gem enthusiasts for centuries. The history of black diamond mining spans various regions of the world, each with its own tale of discovery, challenges, and triumphs.
One of the most renowned regions for black diamond mining is Brazil, where these enigmatic gems were first discovered in the early 18th century. The vast alluvial deposits of the Bahia and Minas Gerais regions yielded an abundance of black diamonds, attracting prospectors from far and wide. However, the rugged terrain and dense vegetation posed significant challenges to miners, requiring perseverance and ingenuity to extract the precious stones from the earth.
In Africa, the Central African Republic emerged as a prominent hub for black diamond mining, particularly in the famous deposits of the diamond-rich regions. Here, miners navigate through dense forests and navigate treacherous rivers to reach the diamond-bearing gravels, where black diamonds are often found alongside other gemstones and minerals. Despite the remote and challenging conditions, the allure of striking it rich lures miners to these untamed landscapes in search of black diamond treasures.
In addition to Brazil and Africa, black diamonds have also been unearthed in other parts of the world, including USA and Russia. In Australia, the Ellendale Diamond Mine gained recognition for its production of high-quality black diamonds, adding to the global supply of these rare gems.
Despite the allure of black diamonds, mining them presents a myriad of challenges for miners. The remote locations of many black diamond deposits require extensive logistical planning and infrastructure development to access, often involving long journeys through rugged terrain and harsh climates. Furthermore, the geological complexity of black diamond formations poses technical challenges during extraction, necessitating specialized equipment and expertise to recover the gems safely and efficiently.
Moreover, environmental and social considerations play a crucial role in black diamond mining operations, with efforts to minimize ecological impact and ensure the well-being of local communities. Sustainable mining practices and community engagement initiatives are increasingly being prioritized to mitigate the negative effects of mining activities and promote responsible resource management.
Next, you will learn more about each type of black diamonds, their origin, composition, structure, human applications, and in the following chapter, you will be able to read about the largest natural specimens of black diamonds ever found and cut into beautiful jewelry settings. You will find it interesting to read about their history and unique characteristics.
The largest black diamonds in history
Nowadays, good quality and large black diamonds are rare and highly valued. In the past, black diamonds were not considered precious gems, and they could be bought for 5-10 dollars per carat. Now they can cost more than colorless or colored diamonds with equal weight characteristics.
Let's take a closer look at some of the most famous black diamonds, starting with the largest one.
Enigma
We'll start with the unique black diamond called "Enigma" with a record weight of 555.55 carats. At a Sotheby’s auction in February 2022, it was sold for over 4.2 million dollars. Despite its intricate and non-classical cut, the "Enigma" diamond has 55 facets. There is an opinion that it formed as a result of a meteorite impact. The owner of the diamond acquired it in its rough form in 1999. At that time, the stone weighed over 800 carats, and its processing took several years. Sotheby's adds that this is the largest fancy natural black diamond in the world. In 2006, it entered the Guinness World Records as the largest cut diamond in the world.
The Spirit of de Grisogono
Continuing our list of the largest black diamonds in history is The Spirit of de Grisogono, cut from 587 carats. It is the largest cut black diamond in the world, ranking 5th among the largest diamonds in the world.
The Spirit of de Grisogono was mined in the western part of Central Africa. To this day, none of the black diamonds can compare to the Spirit of de Grisogono in terms of purity and beauty. It was acquired by the Swiss jeweler Fawaz Gruosi, who was involved in cutting three out of the five famous black diamonds. He transported the crystal to Switzerland and cut the black diamond Spirit of de Grisogono to 312.24 carats in the form of a rose with a modern twist. This ancient cut, developed in India and known since ancient times, can be seen in other famous historical diamonds. Currently, the Spirit of de Grisogono diamond is set in the highest quality white gold and surrounded by 702 small white diamonds with a total weight of 36.69 carats. For over a year, Fawaz Gruosi studied the black diamond Spirit of de Grisogono before giving it this magnificent form, complementing the ancient rose cut with a modern design style. The black diamond Spirit of de Grisogono is described in the scientific work of the Gem Gubelin laboratory as a rare diamond specimen considering its color, quality, and large size. It has been in several private collections, but the jewelry company De Grisogono still owns the ring with the Spirit of de Grisogono diamond.
