Glossary
South Africa
With the finds from 1867 onwards, South Africa made diamonds available in larger quantities for the first time. In 1867 a child found a diamond on the Orange River that was later named «Eureka». A few years later mining in rock began at Kimberley, creating the «Big Hole».
Kimberlite
At Kimberley it was first recognised that diamonds rise from great depth in volcanic pipes. The rock has since been called kimberlite.
Cullinan
In 1905 the largest gem diamond ever found, weighing 3,106 carats, was discovered in the Premier mine, today’s Cullinan mine. The mine is also one of the rare sources of blue diamonds, which owe their colour to the element boron.
Read more
- KnowledgeHow to read a gemstone dossierA dossier brings together everything that describes a stone – from the laboratory report to custody. Here is how to read it in the right order.Read more
- Laboratory reportsUnderstanding a laboratory reportA laboratory report is a gemstone's most important document. Which information it contains, how to read it and what it does not say.Read more
- GlossaryAbsorption spectrumWhen light passes through a gemstone, the stone absorbs certain wavelengths – the rest make up its colour.Read more
- GlossaryAfghanistanAfghanistan is an old source of ruby and emerald; both are mined in the mountains of the Hindu Kush.Read more
Updated 2026-10-04