Inventory: Diamond

Let’s be honest with each other: there is no greater joy in Minecraft than breaking a block deep underground and witnessing the sparkle of the magnificent, beloved diamond.

Anyone who has played Minecraft Bedrock at least once knows that diamonds are the rarest, most valuable, and beautiful items. When you dig deep underground, there’s a chance you’ll come across one, but it’s quite slim; if you’re lucky enough to find it, consider yourself incredibly fortunate. Alternatively, if you’d rather not venture underground, you can search through chests scattered across the map: in deserts, mansions, sunken ships, and vine-covered temples.

Diamonds have been part of the game for a long time. They were introduced in version 0.31, around the same time as feathers, strings, and cooked mushrooms. However, their appearance changed once. On the very first day, diamonds resembled emeralds more closely, but by the next day, developers had transformed them into true, shiny diamonds, while emeralds were designated as a trading currency.

Diamonds are highly sought after not only for their value but also because they are the strongest material available. Crafting a pickaxe from diamonds allows you to break obsidian, something no other pickaxe can do. Diamonds can be used not just for tools but also for protection. Armor made from this material becomes the most durable and impenetrable option in the entire game.

But that’s not all. Diamonds are key components in beacons, shining diamond blocks, enchanting tables, firework stars, and, of course, note blocks. What would life be without these? It would lack meaning…

Image provided by Steve Jurvetson

Previously, we discussed diamond mining and their composition. I doubt you’d want to hear that again. We also mentioned that diamonds are the hardest substance known to us so far. This time, however, we’ve prepared content about the uses and historical significance of diamonds in human life.

The story begins back in the fourth century BC. Scholars believe that during this period, Indian kingdoms discovered diamonds and learned how to mine them. They were primarily found in rivers and small streams, then extracted and handed over to the most esteemed and powerful individuals of that era, who subsequently spread them throughout the world, naturally not for free. People believed that possessing a diamond could protect them from danger, which is why everyone wanted at least a small piece.

However, it wasn’t just the Indians who recognized the value of diamonds. The ancient Romans and Greeks also held this material in high regard, even believing that diamonds were tears shed by the gods falling from the heavens. Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder wrote in the first century AD: “A diamond is the most precious not only among gemstones but among all things in this world.”

As time passed, the popularity and worth of diamonds remained undiminished. By around the 1400s, diamonds were worn as accessories, with the wealthy adorning their palaces with them. People thought that hanging a diamond in their home would protect its inhabitants from diseases, misfortunes, fatigue, and even psychological trauma. These precious stones continued to be sourced from India, but by the 1700s, supplies began to dwindle significantly. Brazil emerged as the primary supplier of diamonds worldwide during that period. However, by the 1800s, South America took over, and by 1900, the South African company De Beers gained control over the sale and distribution of diamonds, accounting for approximately 90 percent of all uncut diamonds.

At that time, there was no specialized equipment, resulting in a relatively low turnover of diamonds—just under a million carats. In modern times, advancements have increased our understanding of diamonds, leading to an astonishing rise in production to over one hundred million carats! This figure is simply incredible. The majority of diamonds are mined in Russia, Botswana, Australia, and Canada.

You might not be particularly interested in real-world diamond mining, but what about in Minecraft Pocket Edition? Here’s a tip we haven’t shared before. If you’ve finally located a diamond underground, but it’s precariously positioned above bubbling lava, don’t panic! First, cover the entire surface beneath it with cobblestone, and only then can you safely break nearby blocks to retrieve your treasure! Good luck!