Diamond, the hardest known natural material on earth is technically a crystalline forms of carbon. The word "diamond" was derived from Greek adamas (“impossible to tame").

Owing to its exceptional physical characteristics such as extreme hardness, high dispersion index, and high thermal conductivity diamonds are used as a gemstone, as an abrasive, and on the working edges of cutting tools.

Formation of diamonds takes place by prolonged exposure of carbon bearing materials to high temperature and pressure.

In nature diamond is formed at great depth in the earth, between 150 and 300 km below the surface where such condition exists.

Diamonds thus formed are pushed up by volcanic activities to earth's surface. When mined diamonds are in the rough form however they are then polished and cut to reveal their fire and brilliance.

Though diamond has multiple uses but its most popular use among the people of past and present generation is that of a gemstone of decorative value. Through out history gem diamonds were characterized on the basis of the “fire”.

How ever with the turn of 19th century new methods evolved and presently diamonds are described on the basis of carat, color, clarity, and cut.

Carat measures the mass of a diamond and the value of a diamond increases exponentially in relation to carat weight, clarity measures the internal defects of a diamond, color may be affected by chemical impurities as pure diamonds are colorless and cut describes the manner in which a diamond has been shaped and polished.

Diamonds are predominantly found in countries like South Africa which has the largest reserves of diamond, Golconda area of Southern India, Brazil, USA, Russia, China and North Western Australia.