Diamonds have fascinated people for thousands of years. One early belief was that diamonds were produced by heavenly rain or dew. Another version–that diamonds were formed by lightening–is echoed in ancient sanskrit where the word for diamond, vajra, also means "thunderbolt".

The myth of a diamond's indestructibility was equally widespread. The English word for diamond comes from the Greek adamas, meaning "unconquerable," reflecting a diamond's superior hardness. Not until the Renaissance could people produce a fire hot enough to effect a diamond.

The first diamond engagement ring was recorded in 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria (the future Holy Roman Emperor) gave a diamond engagement ring to Mary of Burgundy, daughter of the Duke of Burgundy. This forever sealed the bond between diamonds and love.

At Zadok Jewelers we understand that for many people buying a diamond is their first major jewelry purchase. Choosing a diamond is not an easy task. Most people have no idea about the four C's, carat, color, clarity, and cut, which determine the quality, and therefore the price of a diamond. We have assembled a little "diamond buying" information that we believe to be useful to anyone interested in purchasing a diamond.