.The diamond has long been revered both for its beauty and strength. It is the hardest substance on earth. There is no other substance like it. But its rareness, and the difficulty in extracting it, also results in it being very expensive to buy.
Diamonds are formed deep within the earth, where ancient volcanic activity pressurized the carbon until a diamond is formed.
Most stay deep within the earth. But some are brought to the surface by magma, and water.
Lakes form where the ancient volcanoes left depressions in the ground, and some diamonds are then carried away by the water.
Most diamonds are found in lakes and river beds for this reason.
Because of how they are made, and where they land, diamonds are rare, and hard to get to!
Diamond mining is a very expensive business.
Diamonds are mostly found in Australia, Soviet Union, and Africa, but recently there is diamond mining in Canada, where some were discovered in lakes.(The lakes were drained) Most diamond mines have about a 5 year lifetime.

[B]What are some "must know"s  before buying a diamond?[/B]
[B]Remember the 4 C's:[/B]
[B]1. Clarity[/B]- Flawless to inclusions seen with the naked eye
[B]2. Color[/B] - from colorless to slightly yellow
[B]3. Cut[/B]- The cut determines the amount of light that is reflected to the eye, so it is of great importance. Well cut diamonds sell at a premium, and poorly cut diamonds sell At discounted prices.
[B]4. Carat-[/B] This is the wekght of the diamond-
A carat is subdivided into 100 points, and  .01 carat = 1 point.
One carat is equal to .20 grams  The value per carat increases because it is much harder to find larger diamonds. The value per carat increases because it is much harder to find larger diamonds.

It is always best to consult an expert if you are putting out some serious money. Unless you are very good at knowing what to look for, you may take a huge loss.
One of the best sources to find out more is the Gemological Institute of America  or theG.I.A.

Most of the better diamonds have a certificate, which says that the diamond was graded by a gemological laboratory.
 They are evaluated for their quality,not value. A certificate map shows each diamonds unique characteristics, and where they are located on your diamond.
[B]Some of the more respected labs include:[/B]
European Gemological institution(EGL)
Gemological Institute of America(GIA)

Hope this helps!

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