The Gem that Comes from the Stars

black diamond, The Black Diamond, a Mysterious and Intriguing Stone

In common imagination, a diamond is a symbol of light and brilliance. Among the well-known “4Cs” that determine its value, there is also the transparency of the gem. However, there is an exception: the black diamond, which, on the contrary, is dark and opaque. Yet not only is it also a diamond, but it is also much rarer and more valuable than the white one. This is demonstrated by the 3.75 million euros paid for the world’s largest black diamond, sold in February 2022 by the London auction house Sotheby’s and purchased by a cryptocurrency entrepreneur, Richard Heart. The stone auctioned has the remarkable weight of 555.55 carats, corresponding to 111.11 grams, and is called Enigma. There could not have been a more suitable name for a black diamond, whose origin is still a mystery not entirely clarified.

The black diamond, also called carbonado, is found exclusively in Brazil and the Central African Republic. Moreover, unlike traditional ones that are extracted from rock, often at depth, it is found on the surface. What most distinguishes it from the white diamond, but also from other precious stones, is precisely its origin. According to sophisticated analyses, its composition would demonstrate that this type of diamond would not have a terrestrial origin like other minerals. They would have formed billions of years ago in a hydrogen-rich environment, therefore outside the solar system and probably even before the formation of planets. They would then have been incorporated into celestial bodies that, due to a supernova, a stellar explosion, would have fallen to Earth as meteorites, releasing the black diamonds on the Earth’s surface.

The dark color, which varies from shades of gray to absolute black, is given by the iron inclusions that the black diamond contains. This is also the reason for its typical opacity. It is a polycrystalline diamond, that is, containing many crystals, even very small ones, and is composed of a different type of carbon from the white diamond. Due to its structure, with a hard but porous consistency, it is one of the most difficult diamonds to cut and polish. Enigma is an example of this: to obtain the current 55-facet shape from the rough stone required more than three years of work.

The black diamond is so hard and resistant that it is used in the industrial world, for example for the tips that drill rocks for oil extraction.

The Charm of Jewelry with Black Diamonds

An ancient stone of extraterrestrial origin, very rare to find and difficult to work: all these characteristics make the black diamond mysterious and fascinating. Equally intriguing are jewelry with black diamonds, which often create a play of contrasts that opposes white and black, light and darkness. This is the case with the combination with brilliants, as in rings or earrings. Even alone, the black diamond can reinterpret the most classic jewelry in a modern key, such as a wedding band or a tennis bracelet.

The originality of this stone pairs perfectly with the most traditional materials, such as rose gold or white gold. Finally, the black diamond is also ideal in men’s jewelry, thanks to its “masculine” color. From this point of view, a particularly successful combination is with titanium, with which black diamonds allow the creation of rings and bracelets with an original and contemporary look.