Are Diamonds Still Girls' Best Friend?

"Diamonds! Diamonds!

I don't mean rhinestones!

...

But square-cut or pear-shaped

These rocks don't loose their shape.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend."

The above lyrics composed by Jule Styne and sung by Marilyn Monroe still lingers on. Diamonds have always been said to be a girl’s best friend. But coming from a geoscience background, I believe it is a matter of popular perception that makes it their best friend of choice. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am not debasing diamonds. They are precious stones, and their value has stood the test of time. The gems properties are an excellent brilliant lustre, the hardest known mineral, priced and loved by most women… and some men. 

The question to ask is, “Is it rare?” The answer is “no.” Diamonds are commercially abundant. Good jewellery stores carry stocks of them. But, why does it have to be rare? Because rarity makes it worth having and truly precious. There are rare varieties like the Argyle pink and yellow diamonds. However, there is a jewel that is even rarer – ruby! This can be evidenced by browsing your local jewellery advertising brochures. What you will find in those brochures are diamond jewellery but not ruby jewellery. If there are any, it would say “created, man made or industrial” rubies. “Natural” rubies are indeed rare! 

My wife who is also a geologist, and quite knowledgeable on gemstones, if presented with a diamond and ruby, she would obviously take both. But, if made to choose one over the other, ruby is her definite choice. During my last trip to South Africa, I was told to buy her Tanzanites. Yes, tanzanite is another rare gem, found only in Tanzania, East Africa, thus proving her adeptness of gemstones. Another requirement is that the jewellery is to be set in platinum. Platinum is her choice of base setting as it is rarer, stronger and more valuable than gold. Now with choices of Ruby, Tanzanite in a platinum setting, the question is, “Are diamonds still a girl’s best friend?” You decide, the answer is obvious! 

Tanzanite

Natural Ruby

[Originally published at Mining Plus Telegraph, Issue 15 May 2011]