For centuries the people of Europe considered the graceful swan to be the symbol of purity because of its bright, snow white plumage. Imagine then the surprise when the first Europeans arrived on the shores of distant, antipodean Australia in 1606 to find equally lovely swans whose plumage was as black as coal! A similar thing happened with diamonds, a precious stone known for its sparkling white colour until the first black diamonds were discovered in Brazil in the year 1840!
Now black diamonds have become a sought-after addition to any fine jewellery collection, with black diamond earrings being a very popular choice due to their unique, dark splendour. The rich history of black diamonds is fascinating, and still somewhat shrouded in mystery!
The first black diamonds were called carbonados by the Brazilians, and are found nearly exclusively in Brazil as well as the Central African Republic. These amazing black diamonds are thought to have formed somewhere between 2.5 to 3.9 billion years ago and are quite rare. They are considered to be a natural polycrystalline diamond and are mined from stream beds. The natural black colour of these diamonds is caused by the presence of a network of fine, dark-coloured fractures and inclusions. The majority of black diamonds are opaque with an unusual metallic lustre, but some have been found with a translucent "salt-and-pepper" colouration.
Various world cultures hold some interesting beliefs surrounding black diamonds. For example, in India black diamonds are considered to be cursed because of their close resemblance to the eyes of the deadly venomous snakes that can present a real threat to the country's human population if one were to be unlucky enough to be bitten! On the other extreme, The Italians hold that simply touching a black diamond can save the marriage of an estranged couple! The belief is that the couple's problems would be drawn away into the stone's inky depths when the husband and wife both touched it!
The legendary 88-carat Karloff Noir black diamond is believed to bless any person who touches it with good fortune and joy. French King Louis XVIII owned a very fine black diamond he was said to have paid a very large, one might say kingly sum for. The Duke of Brunswick was known to be a zealous connoisseur of different coloured diamonds. In 1874 he claimed to own an incredible five rare black diamonds of various sizes.
The 67-carat Black Orlov is another very famous black diamond. The Black Orlov's mysterious history is a bit uncertain to this day, one legend states that the stone was a massive 195 carats when it was first discovered set into a heathen idol somewhere in the region of Pondicherry, India, and was stolen by a Christian monk, a predecessor of the cinematic treasure hunter Indiana Jones! Yet another legend holds that it was the property of the Russian Princess Nadia Orlov who had to flee Mother Russia following the revolution. It's believed that she was forced to sell her black diamond to acquire the necessary funds for her travels.
Today, black diamonds are a favourite choice for both mens and womens jewellery looking for something unique and dramatic!
