Black Diamonds: A Sturdy Alternative For An Engagement Ring

A classic song declares that 'diamonds are forever', but this is actually not strictly true. In fact, this type of rock can be extremely fragile, depending on its carat and quality. One member of the diamond family, however, stands out for its sturdiness and curiously it is the literal 'black' sheep.

That member is, of course, the 'carbonado', more commonly known as the black diamond, a rock that more engagement ring designers should take into consideration when looking for resilient materials for their wedding and engagement ring orders, due to its extreme resilience when compared with other members of the diamond family.

The reason why carbonados are so much more resistant than 'regular' diamonds is, of course, that they do not technically belong to the same geological group. Their internal constitution is almost entirely different from that of a standard diamond, being closer to that of a meteorite or igneous rock. Its polycrystalline structure, reinforced by nitrogen, makes it virtually impossible to break down, significantly improving its resistance.

In fact, the old adage that states that you can only break a diamond with another diamond is true for carbonados, even if it isn't strictly accurate for its 'regular' cousins. A standard diamond can be crushed by an abnormally strong grip, but to cut a black diamond you have to use another black diamond, which is a long-winded process. This might explain why only very few engagement ring designers opt for these stones for their pieces.

The uncommonly resistant nature of this type of stone may, of course, be connected to its origin, which many speculate to be intergalactic. Popular theories regarding the provenance of black diamonds include the idea that they may be pieces of a star turned supernova or are bits of meteorites that collided with Earth and shattered upon impact. This would explain not only their unique geological structure and composition, but also the fact that they can only be found in a couple of places around the world, namely certain spots in Brazil and Africa.

Whatever their origin, however, the fact remains that black diamonds are extremely resistant, lasting up to three billion years, and therefore constitute a great choice for an engagement ring stone. The fact that there aren't more engagement ring designers using them for their creations might be something to do with the difficulty in acquiring and cutting them, whereas their relatively modest levels of popularity may stem from their rarity, which also explains the high price they bring. At any rate, it is undeniable that carbonados really should be more popular among newlyweds and engagement ring designers alike.