For many of us, a diamond is a valuable sparkly jewel; however, on a recent trip to The Diamond Works Institute, I was transported on a journey of discovery, exploration, and adventure while learning about the history and science behind diamonds.
Generally, the tour starts with an offer of bubbles (sparkling wine) and the tour guide introducing key facts about diamonds, such as the four C’s: cut colour, clarity, and carat weight. South Africa is known for its high-quality, ethically mined white diamonds. My guide informed me that yellow-tinged diamonds result from the presence of nitrogen during the formation of the diamond – the more nitrogen, the yellower the stone.
Diamonds are formed over hundreds of millions of years, as far back as three billion years ago, deep in the earth’s core and under extreme pressure and high temperatures. Most mined diamonds cannot be used as precious gems in jewellery, but they can be used for industrial purposes.
Walking about, I saw people at work – the concentration and the accuracy required to cut a stone is a marvel to witness. According to my tour guide, it takes about ten years of experience before a diamond cutter can start working on diamonds sized one carat and up. Considering how diamonds are formed, the mining process and the expertise that goes into cutting and polishing a stone make sense regarding its high value.
The diamond industry is intrinsically linked to shaping South Africa
From a historical and heritage perspective, there is no doubt that the diamond industry has played a crucial role in shaping the South Africa we see today – bustling, developed cities, vibrant cultures and so forth. Like all fascinating stories, it begins with once upon a time.
Once upon a time, around 1866, Erasmus Jacobs found a “pebble” on the banks of the Orange River, which turned out to be a 21.25-carat diamond. There was a great diamond rush, with people from all over the world flocking to the country in search of riches. That, in turn, led to development and economic opportunities.
Tanzanite
Part of the tour also provides insight into tanzanite. Several years ago, the popularity of tanzanite soared. Tanzanite is exclusive to the Mount Kilimanjaro area, whereas diamonds are found in several African countries and other continents. That alone makes tanzanite quite rare, especially given that it is a finite gem, i.e., there are limited quantities.
Bring on the bling
While the tour has a strong historical element, many fun elements exist. There are replicas of famous diamonds, such as the Cullinan, The Star of Africa and many more. Head to the photo booth where the famous Taylor Burton diamond is superimposed on you, and snap! There are even tiaras in the photo booth to complete any princess goals you might have…
While The Diamond Works Institute offers consultation with a designer to create the perfect bespoke piece, there is a lot of ready-made jewellery. I have never particularly thought of myself as a big jewellery person. Still, I was inspired by all I learned to try on some bling. I started to ponder if I was going down a rabbit hole – diamonds (more specifically, the pieces that appealed to me) are a relatively expensive passion to have – perhaps it is time to get serious about finding ways to become a multi-millionaire to fund this new passion of mine!
Sneak peek
While my bank account might not be healthy enough to afford the diamonds I want, there are certain perks to working in media, such as getting a sneak peek into what is coming next, in this case, via virtual reality (VR)! Heading into a conferencing room, I was given a VR visor that transported me back to the days of the diamond rush in SA. It is an interactive experience whereby you pick up items, including an ancient newspaper, a diamond, etc. and learn interesting facts. I was also put to work sieving through rock and sand to discover a diamond! (It took a few tries to get a grip on the handles of the archaic sieve barrow – and it felt somewhat realistic, particularly with the voiceover telling me to get to it, and that I didn’t have all day!) Overall, it’s a fun edutainment experience.
Plans are also currently underway for more informational booths, almost like a museum highlight more interesting facts about these precious stones.
Diamond qualities
The highlight of the tour is understanding the rich history – and that each diamond has a story to tell. Take, for example, the Taylor-Burton diamond. The original rough diamond, which would later become the Taylor Burton diamond, was discovered at Premier Mine in SA. It was cut and eventually sold again to Richard Burton for Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor found the diamond too heavy to wear as a ring and requested that a necklace be made. Once the romance between Burton and Taylor fizzled out, Taylor sold the famed jewel and donated part of the proceeds to build a hospital in Botswana.
When I left, with stars (diamonds) in my eyes, I whimsically thought to myself: as a gem, diamonds are known to be exceptionally hardy, resilient, unique and beautiful, which is an apt analogy also to describe South African people, particularly as we celebrate heritage month in September!
Did you know?
- The largest, the Kimberley Mine, or “Big Hole,” spanned 170 000 square meters and yielded three tons of diamonds. The mine was closed in 1914, but three holes – Du Toitspan, Wesselton and Bultfontein – continued operating until 2005.
- Mount Kilimanjaro, known as the White Mountain and home to tanzanite, was formed by massive tectonic activity over 585 million years ago.
- A natural diamond is more valuable than a manufactured diamond, as natural diamonds are limited and rare.
- In 1905, the Cullinan diamond was discovered at the Premier Mine (later named the Cullinan Mine). At 3 106.75ct, it is the largest rough diamond ever found. The Cullinan diamond was cut into nine gems. The two largest were presented to King Edward VII in 1908 and now form part of the British Crown Jewels.
- Approximately 50 light-years away from our planet, the white dwarf star, nicknamed Lucy, is a crystallised carbon mass equalling a diamond of 10 billion trillion trillion carats.
- The Golden Jubilee diamond is the world’s largest faceted diamond, weighing an estimated 545.67 carats. Discovered in South Africa in 1985, it was given a papal blessing by Pope John Paul II. In 1997, the diamond was presented to the King of Thailand and is thus owned by the Royal Family of Thailand.
- The blue-white tinted Excelsior diamond is considered to be the second largest diamond to be found in Africa. It was discovered in 1893 at the Jagersfontein Mine near Kimberley.
