Base elements → Materials → Mineral materials

DIAMOND

Diamond, considered one of the most iconic and sought-after precious stones in the world, is a crystalline form of pure carbon. It is distinguished by its exceptional hardness, making it the hardest known natural material to date. With a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale, diamond is unrivalled in its ability to resist wear and abrasion. Beyond its dazzling beauty and rarity, diamond possesses unique properties that make it indispensable in applications as diverse as jewellery and watchmaking.

Physical properties of diamond

Diamond forms under extreme pressure and temperature, typically at depths of more than 150 kilometres beneath the Earth’s surface. Its cubic crystal structure gives diamond its remarkable strength. In addition to its hardness, diamond has exceptional thermal conductivity, meaning it can dissipate heat very quickly. It is also transparent, with a very high refractive index, giving it incomparable brilliance. The purity of its crystalline structure allows diamond to capture and refract light spectacularly, creating the famous sparkle that has earned it such renown in jewellery.

Use in watchmaking

  • In the movement: The use of diamond components in movements is relatively rare. It is occasionally employed as a substitute for ruby, particularly for the bearings of regulating organs.
  • In the exterior: Known as the “king of gems”, diamond is highly valued in gem-setting. It is naturally found on the dials, cases, and bracelets of jewellery watches, in all shapes of cut and types of setting.
  • In tooling: Various methods now make it possible to produce synthetic diamonds. In the watchmaking world, these are almost ubiquitous in all forms of abrasives (cutting tools, grinding wheels, laps, pastes, and liquid solutions). Diamond can also be found in various metrology instruments (probes, optical measurement systems, etc.).

Conclusion

Whether natural or synthetic, diamond has physical properties that make it inseparable from the world of watchmaking, both for its mechanical and its aesthetic qualities.