Diamonds: Valuable or just Mythic?

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Whether diamonds are a “girl’s best friend” or a symbol of everlasting love and commitment, it’s clear they are still valuable to many people around the world. Diamonds are formed from compressed carbon, and take over 1 billion years to grow naturally. But it’s in the cutting that these modern symbolds of love achieve their full value. Faceted correctly, they can be sold at auction for billions of dollars if the stone is large enough. In fact about 50% of all diamonds mined are not used commercially but instead stored for possible future use.

Diamonds were once only worn by kings as a symbol of strength.  Now they are common among brides as a symbol of love.  You can thank a 15th century duke for giving his fiance a diamond engagement ring, starting a trend for diamonds that has lasted a long time.  But even older beliefs about diamonds can be found, but like most of history, ideas become legends which become myths.

Many ancient cultures have beliefs about the stones, including that they might be “god’s tears” or even products of Satan, and had supenatural healing and protective qualities depending on who you ask.  Of course myths are just that, myths.  Diamonds for their part in modern culture have become a product like coffee, needing a special designation to make sure that those who are mining are fairly paid and not part of the “Blood Diamond” trade.

So what do you think?  Do diamonds possess healing powers?  Or are they just a really shiny rock that we use to symbolize love and wealth?  Let me know in the comments or on Facebook.