History
Black diamonds are the rarest in the diamond family. Also called carbonado, black diamonds were created 3.5 billion years ago. Over time, they pushed their way up to the surface through volcanic eruptions about 1 million years ago. Black diamonds are considered to be "young," as clear diamonds were formed approximately 4.25 billion years ago.Features
Full of scratch marks containing sulfide deposits, black diamonds are opaque. They are just as hard as clear diamonds, and Brazil is the major supplier of black diamonds. Uniformity of color is quite uncommon, as most black diamonds appear gray and dark gray, and the surface of the diamond is pitted, which makes cutting challenging.Mythology
Conflicting myths concerning black diamonds appear in different cultures. In India, black diamonds were considered cursed and a sign of death, as they resembled the eyes of snakes and spiders. In Italy, however, fighting couples could save their marriage simply by touching the stone, as it was believed that all of their troubles would leave them and enter the stone. The Karloff Noir diamond is believed to be the world's largest cut black diamond at 88 carats, and legend has it that when touched, it endows the person with good luck, fortune and happiness.Men's Jewelry
The black diamond has been traditionally used in men's jewelry
; however, today, more women are interested in acquiring black diamond jewelry as well. Often set in platinum or titanium in men's rings, the black diamond does not have the fire of white diamonds, but its luster has a beauty of its own. Titanium's color can be altered to match the black diamonds, which provides a striking effect when worn.Women's Jewelry
In women's jewelry, small black diamonds are often paired with small white diamonds to take advantage of the beautiful contrast between the two. Interestingly, black diamonds look better contrasting with white, rather than clear diamonds, so clarity in the range of G to I would contrast better than finer diamonds. Consequently, the white stones would also cost less, which helps to offset the price of the black stones. Cocktail rings, earrings, pendants and tennis bracelets have enjoyed a surge in popularity, as women's fashions continue to use black and white as the basis for most designs.Wedding Jewelry
Since the turn of the twenty-first century, black diamonds have become more popular in wedding jewelry, with both bride and groom sometimes choosing wedding bands with black diamonds set in them. Sometimes, the bride will also choose an engagement ring with either a black diamond main stone surrounded by white diamonds, or a white diamond solitaire with black diamond accent stones.Fashion Jewelry
Genuine black diamonds are not used in fashion jewelry. However, names of certain stones may confuse the purchaser. The Alaska Black Diamond is actually hematite; The Nevada Black Diamond is merely obsidian; and a Radium Black Diamond is really smoky quartz.
Read more: The History of Black Diamond Jewelry | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5032199_history-black-diamond-jewelry.html#ixzz0tqvsnGaz
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