Diamonds are the rarest, most expensive and most beautiful stones on Earth. Not everybody can afford a 2 carat diamond ring, but nowadays most people can afford a pair or earrings with tiny round cuts or an amazing engagement ring. Whether you have a diamond or not, it is worth checking out some of these great and interesting facts on diamonds:

• During ancient times, warriors believed that diamonds have special powers that can transmit courage and bravery. Therefore, these warriors adorned their armors with diamonds. Or, in the middle ages diamonds were used as healing stones. Supposedly the holder of the stone would never have to struggle with headaches, mental illnesses or fatigue.

• The single, main natural element that will form the diamond is carbon. The carbon is made up of atoms and these atoms will start to crystalize and create diamonds under the heat and pressure available below the surface of the Earth.

• Diamonds represent the hardest natural substance known to man, and nothing can scratch a diamond…except another diamond!

• Cultured diamonds, or lab created diamonds are synthetically created stones similar to mined diamonds. Many experts agree it really takes the professionalism and experience of a good gemologist to tell the difference between the two. The difference in pricing? A lab created diamond of 0.5 carat weight is approximately $500, while a naturally mined diamond of the same size costs approximately $1,500.

• The very first engagement ring featuring a diamond was given by an Austrian duke to his loved one. This happened in 1477, and the receiver as Mary of Burgundy. The duke offered her a gold ring with the letter M set in diamonds.

• Which is the largest diamond ever discovered? It’s called the Cullinan diamond, it weighs 3106 carats, and it was discovered in a mine in Pretoria (1905). The owner of the mine actually gave the diamond as a present to King Edward. During the years, the diamond has been cut up into 100 smaller stones and 9 larger ones. Several pieces of the largest diamonds are available on display in the Tower of London, as being part of the Crown Jewels collection.

• There is one place where you are actually allowed to dig for diamonds and keep whatever you find. This is the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. The park really offers tourists a one of a kind experience, where they can run searches and digs and regardless of the value of the stone they find…they are allowed to keep it. You can come across rocks, stones, minerals, crystals and many other semi-precious stones…but you could also find a diamond and keep it. Since 1906, there have been found 70,000 diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds State Park!

• A 13^th century law in France actually prohibited civilians from wearing diamonds. Only the king was allowed to own such a precious stone.

• During the techniques of polishing and cutting, a rough diamond will lose about 50% of its genuine weight…