Diamond is the hardest natural substance on Earth and is about 58 times harder than the next hardest mineral. Yet, diamonds are brittle and when hit with a hammer, it can shatter or splinter.

On the chemistry level, the crystal structure is made up of carbon atoms joined together by strong covalent bonds. Diamond is formed under harsh conditions of high temperatures (900 – 1300) and pressures (45 – 60kilobars) in nature. Such conditions can only be found in the Earth’s craton, which is 140 -190 km, or sometimes even 300km deep from the Earth’s surface.

For a diamond to develop and finally take its form on Earth’s surface, it would take 1 to 3 billion years time and the help of volcanoes to push them to the surface. The more time a diamond is allowed to develop, the bigger it will become. Hence, due to its long forming process and rarity, the more weight a diamond weighs, the more expensive it is.