Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Gem Gallery
Current View ::

All


Browse all objects from the National Gem Collection currently viewable online. Sort by mineral, collection, country, or setting.

Current Object ::

On Exhibit Diamond Ring [G4668]

Learn More ::

GeoFacts

Diamond Ring (G4668) from the National Gem Collection

Photograph of a group of fancy colored diamonds from the National Gem Collection with soft mirror


Photo by Chip Clark


Diamond
Diamonds, like soot, are made of carbon. In a diamond, chains between atoms tightly link to form the hardest material known. In fact, the word diamond comes from the Greek word adamas, which means invincible. Add diamond's fiery brilliance to this extreme hardness and you have a magnificent gem-the April birthstone. Colorless diamonds are few and far between, and valuable as a result. Most diamonds are naturally tinted pale yellow or brown. Fancy diamonds-those with deep shades of yellow, blue, pink, and red-are very rare and highly prized. It is estimated that such fancy colors occur in only one in every 100,000 diamonds.

Hover over color tiles above to learn what this object tells us about the history of the Earth

On Exhibit denotes specimens currently on exhibit

Contact - Site Map - Terms of Use

[ TOP ]