Skip to content
Edelweiss Jewelry Edelweiss Jewelry
Account
Search
Loading...
  • Custom Jewelry
  • Ready-to-Buy Jewelry
Cart
  • Custom Jewelry
  • Ready-to-Buy Jewelry
    • All Items
    • Bands & Rings
    • Necklaces
    • Bracelets
    • Earrings
    • Men's Wedding Bands & Shop
  • Account
  • Home
  • / Blog
  • / The Light From Canada

The Light From Canada

Annsley Mattiessen·May 01, 2020
The Light From Canada

A Solitaire Diamond Ring by Edelweiss

1.50 Carat Oval Brilliant Diamond
Delicately Mounted in an 18 Karat Yellow Gold Setting
Handmade in New York, NY

More than a billion years ago, 100 miles (161 km) or more beneath the earth’s surface, in a cauldron of extreme temperatures and high pressure, carbon atoms bonded tightly together. At temperatures greater than 2100 Fahrenheit (1150 Celsius) and pressures 45,000 times greater than at sea level, crystals formed, resulting in the hardest natural mineral on Earth: diamond.

 

Canada is a relatively new diamond producer. While alluvial diamonds found in the United States and southern Canada in the late 1800s suggested that glaciers may have transported the crystals from Hudson Bay in northeastern Canada, it wasn’t until the 1990s that the first kimberlite was discovered. In April 1990, after a decade of exploration across 750 miles (1,130 km) in the Northwest Territories, the discovery of chrome diopside (a bright green indicator mineral) suggested a kimberlite pipe nearby and led to the first major diamond mine, Ekati. This find triggered an exploration rush that thrust the country into the ranks of the world’s top diamond producing nations.

Diamonds remained hidden deep within the earth for hundreds of millions of years, until volcanic activity violently transported them upwards towards the earth’s surface in magma. Vertical rock formations, called “kimberlite pipes,” are remnants of these ancient volcanoes. Erosion subsequently frees rough diamonds from their host rock to be transported by rivers and deposited sometimes at great distances, from their original source. Miners in places like India and Brazil would uncover them in alluvial deposits. Today, most diamonds are found in kimberlite pipes, which are the primary source of mined diamonds.

Photo of the cut and polished 1.50 CT oval brilliant diamond.
All photographs of diamonds in this article are from the G.I.A. archives.

The Light From Canada Diamond is unique because it exhibits rare, antique-style characteristics such as the "open culet" and an elongated, flatform typically found in antique Indian diamonds from the famous Golconda diamond mines. The fact that this diamond maintains optimal brilliance and life while maximizing its face-up surface area makes it truly rare and exceptional.

While waiting for the Light From Canada to arrive, Edelweiss began to plan it's a stunning setting. Working with our sketch artists, we created a ring design study comparing three main designs. Drawing and testing a variety of settings, Edelweiss chose a solitaire ring design for The Light From Canada but offers complete custom jewelry services should a client want to modify the ring in any way.
 
Share
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Pin it

Previous

5 Women in the History of Jewelry
March 04, 2020

5 Women in the History of Jewelry

Next

Won’t You Be Mine? A history of St. Valentine's Day
February 04, 2021

Won’t You Be Mine? A history of St. Valentine's Day

Sign Up to Receive 15% off Your First Purchase

*Does not apply to custom products

*New customers only

  • Client Reviews
  • Customer Service
  • About Edelweiss
  • Blog
  • Privacy & Terms
Copyright © 2022 Edelweiss Jewelry. Powered by Shopify

Welcome to Edelweiss Jewelry

Subscribe to receive 15% off your next purchase.

Offer valid through June 1st, 2022.

View Quote Continue Shopping

Request for Quote

TO ADD MULTIPLE ITEMS TO YOUR QUOTE, PLEASE FILL QTY FIELD THEN CLICK ON "ADD TO QUOTE"