Diamond Statistics

32+ Dashing Diamond Statistics to Make You Bling Twice

We gathered some fantastic diamond statistics, stories about diamonds, and facts that will not only blow your mind but also motivate you to get at least one diamond of your own. Since their discovery, diamonds have often been considered the most beautiful thing in the world. About two thousand years ago, the Roman naturalist Pliny said: “Diamond is the most valuable, not only of precious stones but of all things in this world.” 

So, let’s see what they are all about! Learn about the diamond’s nature, prices, rates, value, production, and history.

Top 10 Facts and Shiny Diamond Statistics for 2021

  • During the pandemic, the prices of high-quality 1-carat diamonds went up by 12%.
  • In 2019, India imported the highest dollar value worth of diamonds — $22 billion.
  • 48% of all polished diamonds worldwide ended up in the US in 2019.
  • In 2020, Russia produced 19 million carats of industrial diamonds.
  •  The Kimberley Process has managed to reduce the trade of conflict diamonds.
  • The diamonds market price is around $10,441.11 per carat.
  • There is only one active diamond mine in the whole United States.
  • In the 90s, up to 15% of all the traded diamonds were blood diamonds.
  • Although diamonds are the hardest substance on Earth, they’re not unbreakable.
  • Diamond-related conflicts in Sierra Leone resulted in the deaths of about 75,000 people.

Diamond Stone Stats About the Worldwide Production

Which country is the leader in diamond production?

1. ALROSA is the leader in diamond production, followed by De Beers Debswana and Rio Tinto diamond company.

(Statista) (National Jeweler) (Ns Energy)

From 2015 to 2019, the leading company in diamond production was a Russian company ALROSA, with around 38.5 million carats of diamonds, according to stats about the global diamond industry in 2019. 

ALROSA was followed by De Beers company, one of the most well-known diamond companies, that produced 30.1 million carats of diamonds. In third place was Debswana, and in fourth, Rio Tinto diamonds company.

2. A near record-high diamond production in 2019 wasn’t accompanied by the same demand.

(The Diamond Loupe)

The overproduction of rough diamonds in 2017 caused mining revenues to drop for almost a quarter. According to the world diamond market, production in 2019 was almost at a record high. 

However, the demand for diamonds dropped in 2019, which led to higher diamond inventory levels all over the world. 

3. In 2020, Russia produced 19 million carats of industrial diamonds.

(Statista)

According to statistics, the world’s leading country in diamond production is Russia. The second place belongs to Australia (12 million carats of diamonds), followed by DR Congo (12 million carats of diamonds), and Botswana (5 million carats of diamonds). 

4. When talking about diamond rates, the market price is around $10,713.30 per carat.

(Diamond Search Engine)

When discussing the price of diamonds, we have to look at different factors. Some of them are famous 4 Cs, which include carat weight, cut, color, and clarity — but polish, symmetry, shape, and a few other aspects are important, as well. 

At the time of writing (April 2021), the average diamond price is $10,713.30 per carat. 

(Reuters)

As a result of the pandemic, numerous diamond mines in the world had to shut their doors, like Stornoway Diamonds’ Renard mine, Petra Diamonds’ Williamson, and Firestone Diamonds’ Liqhobong mine. 

On the one hand, while the prices for high-quality 1-carat diamonds witnessed an increase, conversely, the cost of lower-quality diamonds has dropped. Overall, the demand for diamonds in 2020 largely decreased, and the trend will probably continue in 2021 until the pandemic ends. 

As it can be seen, people have an unusual habit of spending large amounts of money on high-quality products even in times of crisis.

6. Diamond statistics suggest that in 2020, the rough diamond production managed to fall to 111 million carats — that’s 20% less than in 2019.

(PR Newswire)

For comparison, rough diamond production hit its peak in 2017, when it amounted to 152 million carats. Since then, there was a decline by about 5% each year until 2020, when the production dropped by 20% compared to 2019. 

The global diamond market overview shows about 20% of diamond retail sales were done online. In fact, 70% of buyers used digital tools to find the perfect product before purchasing it in stores.  

7. In 2019, India imported the highest dollar value worth of diamonds — $22 billion.

(World’s Top Exports)

Asian customers spent the highest amounts of money on imported diamonds, about $64.2 billion, i.e., 61.2% of the global total. North American buyers (19.6%) came in second, while European buyers (16.2%) took third place. 

8. Based on the diamond market 2020 data, diamond jewelry sales went down by 15%.

(Bain & Company)

Due to the pandemic, there was a decrease in diamond jewelry sales, especially in the first and second quarters of 2020. 

What’s more, the demand for diamond jewelry became localized because of the lockdowns and traveling restrictions. On a positive note, during the holiday season (in the fourth quarter of 2020), the demand for diamond jewelry experienced a comeback.

Interesting US Diamond Statistics

How many active diamond mines exist in the US and other interesting facts.

9. In 2019,  48% of all polished diamonds worldwide ended up in the US.

(Statista) (Edahn Golan)

The second-rated country, China, had a mere 15%, followed by India (10%).                

In the same year, the US-sourced diamonds from 71 different countries. 

10. There is only one active diamond mine in the whole United States.

(Geology)

Despite the fact that the US is one of the world’s biggest countries, there is only one active diamond mine in the USA. It’s called the Crater of Diamonds and is located in Arkansas. People have been finding diamonds in it since 1972 when it became a state park, and most of those diamonds were yellow and brown.

11. In 2019, a teacher found the largest diamond of the year in the Crater of Diamonds.

(USA Today)

In 2019, a Nebraska teacher searched for gems with his family in the Crater of Diamonds mine. After a couple of hours, he found something special — a brandy-colored diamond, the largest found at the park that year. 

Despite the fact that a cut diamond of similar size was sold for around $1,000, he decided to keep it.

Brief Conflict Diamonds Statistics

Conflict diamonds, aka blood diamonds, are diamonds that are mined in a war zone and later used to finance militaries. How many diamonds in the world are blood diamonds?

12. The Kimberley Process has managed to reduce the trade of conflict diamonds.

(The Kimberley Process) (How Stuff Works)

The Kimberley Process was founded in 2000 to ensure that all traded diamonds were conflict-free. This means that countries that export diamonds need to ensure that all the containers have a certificate proving the diamonds inside have a legal background.

About 56 participants represent 82 countries, including the European Union and its Member States (they count as one participant).

13. Horrible conflict diamonds statistics show billions of dollars have been used to finance civil wars.

(CDN Global Witness) (How Stuff Works)

Conflict diamonds, aka blood diamonds, are usually used by rebel groups to finance civil wars in some African countries. Terrorist groups have also used blood diamonds to finance their activities. 

The precise number is hard to determine, but experts say that billions of dollars went into funding those kinds of conflicts. 

14. Diamonds have fueled civil conflicts in seven African countries in the last 20 years, facts about diamonds in Africa reveal.

(Brilliant Earth) 

Diamonds were used to finance civil wars in Angola, Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic, Liberia, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in Côte d’Ivoire.  

15. One survey in Angola showed that 46% of miners were kids between 5 and 16 years old.

(Brilliant Earth)

Unfortunately, in most parts of Africa, people live in poverty, bad health, and unsafe environments. Due to such conditions, even kids often have to work and earn money for their families.

(CDN Global Witness) (How Stuff Works)

A civil war in Sierra Leone, which was funded by blood diamonds, ended in 2002. According to sources, the Revolutionary United Front killed and mutilated the people living in the diamond villages until they gained complete control of the mines. 

In that encounter alone, around 75,000 people lost their lives. In all conflicts combined, more than 4 million people died.

17. Diamond industry facts show that, in the 90s, up to 15% of all the traded diamonds were blood diamonds.

(CBS News)  

It’s tough to say what percentage of all the traded diamonds are conflict diamonds. However, it’s a well-known fact that there are some legal holes in the Kimberley Process. Sometimes a government declares blood diamonds as “conflict-free.” 

All in all, blood diamond facts show that as much as 15% of all the traded diamonds in the mid and late 90s were blood diamonds.

18. All diamonds that entered any country before 2000 could have potentially been conflict diamonds.

(Brilliance)

Before the Kimberley Process, there was no way of preventing conflict diamonds from entering the market. Any diamond that entered the market before 2000 could have potentially been a conflict diamond, diamond statistics denote. 

To avoid purchasing blood diamonds, you need to do a few things. First of all, buy new diamonds and avoid buying vintage or antique ones. Why? Blood diamonds can sometimes end up in retail stores to avoid being sold to fund a war. Secondly, ask the retailer to show you the source of his diamonds, and lastly, ask for a certification.  

Interesting Diamond Statistics for Kids and Adults

Here are some fun facts you didn’t know about diamonds.

19. Queen Elizabeth II owns a diamond worth £40.9 million ($55.2 million).

(The Sun)

Apart from a massive collection of pearls, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, the Queen also owns one of the biggest diamonds in the world, a part of the Cullinan diamond. 

The diamond, before the cut, weighed 3,106 metric carats. It was discovered in 1905 in South Africa, and it was named after the owner of the mine. It was cut into nine smaller pieces, and the largest of them, which belongs to the Queen, is now worth £40.9 million.

20. The average price for a 1.2-carat center stone diamond ring is $6,351.

(Financial Samurai)

Diamond ring trends show that engagement rings are usually made of gold (white gold being the most popular option) and diamonds. The average price for an engagement ring nowadays is 6,351 for a 1.2-carat center stone diamond ring. 

In a similar manner, the average amount of money spent on an engagement ring had increased by 25% since 2011, when the average price was $5,095.  

21. How many tons of diamonds are there in the world? A quadrillion.

(CNN)

Based on a study conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, it’s estimated that quadrillion tons of diamonds can be found under the Earth’s surface. To demonstrate, that’s 1,000,000,000,000,000 tons. 

The diamonds are hidden 90–150 miles below the surface, and the current mining machinery cannot penetrate that deep.

22. The Eureka Diamond was the first diamond found in South Africa.

(The Israeli Diamond Industry)

The first-ever diamond found in South Africa was the Eureka Diamond. One of the interesting facts about this diamond is that it was discovered in 1866 by the children of Daniel Johannes Jacobus Jacobs, a Dutch farmer. Daniel appreciated its unique appearance and beauty but didn’t expect it to be worth much.

23. There is a star made of diamonds called Lucy.

(Futurism)

Here’s one fun fact about diamonds. There is a unique star 50 light-years away from the Earth, and it is named Lucy. After a few experiments, the scientists concluded that about 90% of Lucy’s mass is crystallized. And since its core is made out of carbon, it can be said that it is the biggest diamond ever found!

24. The Hope diamond once belonged to King Louis XIV.

(Smithsonian) (Diamond Gems)

According to Hope diamond facts, it was made from one of the most well-known blue diamonds. The original diamond, the Tavernier Blue, was found in the mine in Golconda, India. 

First, it was purchased by a French merchant, Jean Baptiste Tavernier, who gave it its original name. In 1668, he sold the diamond to King Louis XIV, who recut it and renamed it the French Blue. According to facts about the Hope diamond, it was passed on to King Louis V and VI, and in 1792, it was stolen, recut, and resold. 

The details of its history between that theft and 1830 are not precise, but some records claim that a larger part of the diamond was sold to a London banker in 1812, and he named it Hope. 

Today, the Hope diamond is a part of the gem collection at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

25. One of the little-known diamond facts: Indians were trading diamonds in the fourth century BC.

(GIA)

Some historians believe that Indians were collecting diamonds from the country’s rivers and streams in the fourth century BC and then selling them to wealthy Indian families. 

In the 1400s, those diamonds started finding their way to Western Europe, where they became a trendy fashion accessory among the wealthy class.

26. Diamond myths and facts: although diamonds are the hardest substance on Earth, they’re not unbreakable.

(Times of India) (Icing on the Ring)

Are diamonds forever? Not really. Despite being the hardest gemstone, they can still be chipped, damaged, or broken if not taken care of. Once they’re found and cut, they can be damaged by pressure or another surface. Hence the protection around them (the settings where they rest in your jewelry).

The only way to cut a diamond is to use another diamond. And yes, diamonds can cut glass but don’t try it at home. 

27. Brazil was one of the biggest diamond suppliers for more than 150 years, diamond statistics show.

(GIA)

After a few hundred years of being in the spotlight, India’s diamond supplies started to decrease. In the 1700s, Brazil came up as a vital diamond source. Diamonds were discovered in Brazil by the gold miners checking the gravels of the local rivers. 

28. Diamond is a birthstone of people born in April.

(American Gem Society)

Although we don’t know how months became associated with gemstones, people used to wear different stones each month as a good luck charm. It was believed that the stones had magical powers.

Diamonds are associated with people born in April. According to beliefs, they bring balance, clarity, and abundance to the wearer.

29. How much is a 1 carat diamond worth? Between $1,800 and $12,000. 

(The Diamond Pro)

The diamond’s weight is calculated by carats, and all diamonds are priced per carat. Their cost will also depend on various factors, like the shape, the color of the diamond, the cut quality, and clarity. 

A 1-carat diamond (rounded) measures to about 6.5 mm (in diameter) when it comes to size.

30. Diamond statistics report the supply and demand increased drastically after the discovery of diamonds in South Africa.

(GIA)

The huge discovery of diamonds in Kimberley, South Africa, in 1866, made everything very different. The entrepreneur Cecil Rhodes established De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited, which, at some point, controlled around 90% of the world’s production of rough diamonds. 

31. The Argyle mine in Australia and the Cullinan mine in South Africa are the only locations where you can find blue diamonds.

(With Clarity)

Diamond facts show you can find these unique stones in a small number of mines. Since they are so rare, they can be pretty pricey.

One of the most famous blue diamonds, besides the Hope Diamond, is the 12 carat Blue Moon Diamond, also known as the Blue Moon of Josephine. 

32. It could take you a whole year to cut a black diamond.

(Cape Town Diamond Museum)

Based on the black diamond facts, these exceptional stones are made of carbon and graphite atoms, making them pretty hard to cut. Not only are they challenging to split, but they are also scarce. 

You can find them in only two locations — in Central Africa and Brazil. Unlike other diamonds usually found in kimberlites, black diamonds can only be found in alluvial deposits close to natural sources of water.

FAQs

What does a diamond look like when it is first found?

To identify a natural uncut diamond, a couple of positive tests are necessary. A diamond in the rough looks like a water-worn quartz pebble. Still, the only way to know for sure is by considering the location it’s been found in, its crystal form, specific gravity, hardness, etc.

What’s more, given that water and diamonds don’t mix, miners use grease to separate them from other rocks. How does it work? Diamonds will stick in the oil. Likewise, using ultraviolet light can also help distinguish diamonds from other minerals. 

What is the diamond made of? 

Diamonds are made of carbon, and they form under high temperatures and pressure around 100 miles below the Earth’s surface. Under these conditions, diamonds’ carbon atoms crystalize. 

Every carbon atom is connected to four other carbon atoms, making a diamond one of the hardest materials on the planet.

In reality, we still don’t know where the carbon comes from or how much time it takes for diamonds to grow. It could take them days, weeks, months, or even millions of years to grow. 

What makes a diamond so valuable?

Diamonds are expensive because jewelry worthy diamonds are rare and it’s so hard to process them. In other words, to cut the diamond, you need to use modern equipment and technology. After mining them, the diamonds need to be polished by experts before becoming part of the jewelry.

The size and the quality of the diamond will also be considered when forming the final price. 

What is harder than a diamond?

Diamond is one of the hardest minerals on Earth due to the covalent bonds between carbon atoms and a cubic crystal structure. However, some minerals are harder than diamonds, like Hexagonal boron-nitride, which is harder than a diamond by 18%. 

Hexagonal boron-nitride is forming amidst volcanic eruptions. Since it’s so rare, the mineral doesn’t have a formal name. 

What can cut a diamond?

The only thing that can cut a diamond is another diamond — and a laser. You need to use specialized tools made of diamond-dusted steel blades or diamond-tipped phosphor bronze to cut a diamond. 

Lasers are also an effective way of cutting diamonds, although the cutting process takes hours. 

Moreover, even though Obsidian is around three times sharper than a diamond, it is too brittle to cut it. 

How many carats of diamonds are mined each year?

According to the latest stats, in 2020, only 111 million carats were produced. Based on the statistics, each year, a different amount of carats are made. For example, 2005 was the record year for diamond production — 177 million carats were produced. 

On that note, after 2008 and the economic downturn, global production witnessed a decrease. In 2009 the number amounted to 120 million carats. 

Who owns most of the diamonds in the world?

The largest diamond company is De Beers company, founded in 1888 by Cecil Rhodes. It is the owner of mines in Canada, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. 

The primary marketing strategy they are using is representing diamonds as symbols of eternal love and commitment, which encourages people to opt for installment loans to obtain one.

What are some fun facts about diamonds?

There are a lot of fun facts, and some of them are:

  • The only thing that can cut a diamond is another diamond. 
  • Diamonds are usually transparent or pale yellow. However, they can also be brown, green, blue, red, orange, pink, black, etc.
  • Scientists have discovered a star made out of carbon. Since 90% of that carbon has crystallized, it can be said that a large part of the star is a diamond. 

How many diamonds are there in the world?

A quadrillion tons of diamonds can be found beneath the Earth’s surface. So there’s no shortage of diamonds in the world. Then again, they lie deep down, 90–150 miles underground, which makes them extremely difficult to mine. 

Given that our current mining technology is still not that advanced, they will probably stay there for a long time.

Can we run out of diamonds?

According to De Beers, if we don’t discover large diamond mines in the future, the supply of diamonds will most likely start to slow down starting from 2020. This claim is supported by the decrease in diamond production in Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia. 

Although miners are already searching for new diamond locations in Siberia, Canada, and Central Africa, it will take some time before the major companies start their production, given that mines are difficult to establish.

What country buys the most diamonds?

India imports the highest dollar value worth of diamonds. In 2019 alone, the country imported $22 billion, i.e., 21% of the total value of imported diamonds. 

Other countries on the list include the US with $20.2 billion (19.2%), Hong Kong with $17.7 billion (16.9%), and Belgium with $10.6 billion (10.1%). 

Generally speaking, Asian countries spend the most money on imported diamonds (61.2% of the global total), followed by North America (19.6%), Europe (16.2%), Africa (2.4%), Oceania (0.4%), and Latin America (0.1%).

Are diamonds really worthless?

There are several reasons why diamonds could be considered worthless. First of all, they decay much faster than other rocks over time. Secondly, they are not suitable for investment since they lack an essential value. In fact, once the diamonds leave the jewelers, they will lose 50% of their value. 

And lastly, diamonds are marketed as rare and precious by major companies, even though they can be grown in the lab (synthetic diamonds). Therefore, they are more of a psychological necessity.

Conclusion

After exploring diamond fun facts (and some not so fun), we conclude that diamonds are arguably the most beautiful gems in the world. Although they’re not unbreakable, they still symbolize life, love, spiritual power, and commitment.

Diamonds have been a part of the engagement ring trends and will continue to do so in the future, with blue becoming a new white in 2021. 

We hope that our compilation of diamond statistics taught you something new about diamonds and perhaps even made you consider getting one for yourself or your significant other in the future. 

Sources:

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Milica is a student of telecommunications who has always been intrigued by finding clues and interesting data. As a former high school exchange student, she discovered her love for helping others and teaching them everything she knows. To get the best of both worlds, she started exploring the endless sea of information that is the internet, sorting it out, and providing relevant facts and clues to the readers of her articles. In her spare time, she loves to travel, help and be with animals, and cuddle with her cat Lola.

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