Story THUY TIEN
Photos INTERNET

Fashion lovers have always been enchanted by the beauty of masterpiece diamonds.

Carey Mulligan’s dazzling beauty is further enhanced by the Tiffany & Co. jewelry in The Great Gatsby

Falling stars

Diamonds were formed billions of years ago through extreme heat and pressure on carbon elements. In a Sanskrit  document  from 320-296 BC, Indian philosopher Chanakya wrote: “What could be more magnificent than a large, heavy diamond that can withstand impact, has symmetrical points, can scratch (from within) a glass vessel, spins like a top, and emits brilliant light?”

Humans began mining diamonds in India four thousand years ago. In English, the word “diamond” originates from the ancient Greek “adamas,” meaning indestructible or unbreakable stone. Due to this hardness and unique transparency, ancient people viewed diamonds as a mysterious supernatural power source. Ancient Indians used diamonds as talismans against illness and misfortune. Following trade routes to the West, ancient Romans and Greeks believed diamonds were fragments of falling stars or tears of gods. Through  various  interpretations,  diamonds became increasingly coveted for their sparkling beauty and deep associations with power.

Anne Hathaway dazzles in Toussaint diamond jewelry by Cartier in Ocean’s 8

Eternal value

Over thousands of years, precious diamonds have traversed the globe and become symbols of eternal value.

In the era of monarchies, royal families used diamonds to display power, while today they are recognized as tokens of immortal love. This concept originated in 1477 when Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented a diamond engagement ring to Mary of Burgundy, establishing a tradition that continues through today. Or recall the sapphire necklace Heart of the Ocean, that Rose’s character in Titanic (1997) cast into the ocean. The necklace, featuring a heart- shaped blue sapphire, was designed after the real Hope Diamond, recovered from the historic Titanic wreckage. The diamond’s rare beauty has become the embodiment and inspiration for tales of endless love.

Moreover, the purity of diamonds helps elevate women’s nobility. In the 1960s, fashion enthusiasts were captivated when Audrey Hepburn’s Holly Golightly displayed a daily habit in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961): she would visit the Tiffany store, pressing herself against its brightly lit display to admire the most luxurious jewel boxes. Holly’s image in her black dress, high bun and gleaming Tiffany diamond and pearl necklace became an immutable fashion icon.

Kirsten Dunst wearing Fred Leighton diamond jewelry in Marie Antoinette

However, it would be mistaken to associate diamonds exclusively with luxurious and aristocratic women, for within the fierce and furious flow of hip-hop, diamonds are also used as an edgy statement of power – sometimes manifested in the trend of dental jewelry known as grillz. Some sources credit Atlanta rappers Kilo Ali and Raheem the Dream as grillz pioneers, but when Slick Rick released his debut album with the single Teenage Love in 1988, his sparkling smile forever changed hip-hop. Three gold teeth, the middle one studded with glittering diamonds – what could be more daring and defiant as a statement of individuality in a genre born on the streets?

Today, the jewelry industry continues to stir excitement among enthusiasts with spectacular designs and prices determined by the 4C principles: carat (weight), clarity, color and cut (number and method of diamond faceting). Parallel to this is a new trend since 2021, when Pandora announced its commitment to sustainability by ceasing natural diamond mining and shifting to lab-grown diamonds. This transition has sparked questions about the rarity and eternal value of diamonds – questions that only the future will answer.