WHAT DIAMONDS ARE USED FOR
Many poorer quality diamonds end up being used not in jewellery, but in industrial applications, with small diamond particles embedded into saw blades, drill bits and grinding wheels. Loose diamond powder can also be used to polish objects made of hard stone, and this may even predate the ornamental use of diamonds. There’s evidence that Chinese craftsmen were using diamond powder in this way as far back as 4,500 years ago.
More recently, diamonds have found their way into high-end electronic products, both as a means to remove unwanted heat and in loudspeaker cones that can vibrate rapidly without deforming. They’re also used to make high-brightness lasers that are especially suited to beaming power over long distances, for example in space communication.