Diamonds Are Forever Diamonds have long been prized for their exquisite sparkle and can be found in crowns, rings, watches, tapestries, goblets, knives, and any other place where they enhance appearances. Along with gold and silver, diamonds have been considered very valuable, as you can see from any visit to a jewelry store. In most gem stones, a small number of metal atoms slip into the crystal and create the gem's distinctive color. A brief description of these combinations is found in the page about gems . What sets diamonds apart is that they have no impurities.
Diamonds are, in fact, pure carbon, with nothing else present.
The beauty of diamonds is only part of their story. In addition to their remarkable appearance, diamonds are the hardest material known to us. Of diamond, glass, or cubic zirconia, only a true diamond will scratch a piece of glass or mirror. If cutting glass doesn't convince you that you have a diamond, try to break it. If you have a diamond, only another diamond will have any effect.