DIAMONDS - THE HARD FACTS

1. Diamonds were fist found in India over 4000 years ago.
2. Diamonds are mined in 25 countries and on every continent except Europe and Antarctica.
3. The top diamond-producing countries that account for 80% of the mining industry are Russia, Botswana, The Demogratic Republic of Congo, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Angola, Namibia, Ghana, Brazil, Sierra Leone and The Central Africa Republic
4. 80% of diamonds mined are used in industry, only 20% are used as gem stones.
5. A 13th Century French law proclaimed that only the King could wear diamonds.
6. Until 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy, only men wore diamonds.
7. Until 2002, between 4 and 15% of diamonds came from conflict areas, these were called 'Blood Diamonds' and it is still impossible to see where a diamond is sourced, despite and internationally recognised system to control them called the Kimberly Process.
8. Americans buy approximately 50% of the worlds diamond jewellery.
9. A diamond's weight is measured in carats, a unit of measurement equal to 200 milligrams.