Sure, everyone sees diamonds in engagement rings and on red carpets, but there are lots of fun facts about diamonds that I bet you never knew. For example:
- In Greek mythology, diamonds were tears of the gods; in Roman mythology, diamonds were splinters from the stars that Eros (the god of love) had made into tips for his arrows.
- The word 'carat' comes from the carob tree whose seed was used for centuries as the standard for weighing precious stones.
- Diamonds are the only gemstones composed of just one chemical element, carbon. Although crystal-clear, it is black when reduced to dust.
- The first recorded diamond engagement ring was given to Mary of Burgundy from Archduke Maximillian of Austria in 1477 as a betrothal gift.
- The largest diamond ever found was the Cullinan at 3,106 carats. Known also as the Star of Africa, it adorns the scepter of King Edward VII of England. The Tower of London is its current home.
(Thanks to the Antwerp Tourist Guide for the info!)
