Timantti

Timantti is the Finnish word for the mineral diamond, a crystalline form of carbon. Diamonds are renowned for their hardness, rated 10 on the Mohs scale, and for a high refractive index that gives their characteristic brilliance. The crystal system is cubic, and the common natural crystal form is the octahedron. While most gemstones are colorless, impurities can produce a range of colors including yellow, brown, blue, green, pink, and other fancy hues.

Natural diamonds form deep in the Earth’s mantle under high pressure and temperatures, typically around 140 to 190 kilometers below the surface. They are brought to the surface by deep-origin volcanic activity through kimberlite pipes. Primary deposits occur in pipes, while secondary deposits are found in riverbeds and alluvial sands.

Diamonds have two main domains of use: gemstones for jewelry and industrial tools that exploit their hardness and thermal conductivity. Gem-quality diamonds are cut to maximize brilliance, while industrial diamonds are used as abrasives, drill bits, and precision cutting tools. Synthetic diamonds produced by high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods are increasingly common for both industrial and gem applications.

Valuation and grading of gem diamonds rely on the 4 Cs: carat (weight), color, clarity, and cut. Carat measures size; color ranges from colorless to light taint; clarity assesses internal and surface flaws; cut influences light return and brightness.

Etymology: timantti is borrowed from Swedish diamant and related forms in German and other languages, ultimately deriving from Latin diamans or Greek adámas, meaning invincible. Ethical considerations and regulation, such as the Kimberley Process, address concerns about conflict diamonds and encourage the growing use of lab-grown diamonds.