Paul Simon with “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes”

Graceland, the album featuring this hit single, didn’t quite go diamond level (which requires 10 million US sales), but it did sell over 14 million copies worldwide. For a refreshingly uncommercial album, this was a pretty impressive feat. Graceland continues to be lauded as one of the best albums of all time.

David Bowie with “Diamond Dogs”

Pet accessories can seem a little silly to those who don’t have an animal themselves, but who can blame people for treating their furry, scaled, or feathered friends to a fun item every once in a while? A cute set of puppy shoes or a funky leash to take your bearded lizard out on walks doesn't push the envelope too much, but some people take the pampering a little far. Like Riwin Jirapolsek, a Thai jewelry designer who in 2009 (hey, remember the global economic meltdown that was happening back then?) made his 15 year old Maltese a $4.2 million tiara. The titanium crown contained 250-carats of emeralds and diamonds and zero carats of financial responsibility.

To each their own, though, eh?

Rihanna with “Diamonds”

Most people know that diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring substance on Earth, but lesser known is the even harder naturally occurring substance lonsdaleite. This is probably because lonsdaleite is found in meteor debris, which makes it quite a bit less abundant than diamonds (which aren’t really rare at all, we just think they are because a few big companies came up with very clever marketing campaigns to pull the wool over our eyes). Anyways, an impurity-free meteorite would actually possess a carbon structure 58% harder than a diamond. Pretty hardcore if you ask us!

Pink Floyd with “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 1-5)"

When it comes to face shapes, one of the most common is “diamond shaped,” which is characterized by a narrower forehead, wider cheekbones, and a narrower (usually pointed) chin. The widest part of these faces is generally at the temple. If this sounds like you, the best shades for your face shape are our Fort Knocks, Fast Lanes, and Torrey Pines. All three of those have a ton of fantastic colorways to choose from, and luckily they’re also all available in our CUSTOM Shop!

The Beatles with “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”

Despite rumors that this Beatles classic was inspired by lysergic acid diethylamide (don’t do drugs, kids), writer John Lennon insisted that the idea for this song came from a drawing his son had done in school, which he called “Lucy – in the sky with diamonds." Lennon also claimed that the song’s lyrics were inspired by Lewis Carrol’s “Alice in Wonderland,” which might be why they sound like something out of a trip anyways.

Marylin Monroe with “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”

We have to disagree on this one. Real human friends are better than diamonds any day.

Shirley Bassey with “Diamonds Are Forever”

Shirley Bassey recorded this snazzy track for the 1971 Bond film, “Diamonds Are Forever,” ranked 18th best (out of 27 total Bond movies) by Rotten Tomatoes. Bassey also recorded the theme song for two other Bond films, Moonraker (20th best), and Goldfinger (which holds the #1 spot). No other singer has recorded multiple Bond themes. Good for you, Shirley.

Joan Baez with “Diamonds and Rust”

Diamonds may be “forever,” but there is also beauty in things that break down. Like metals, for example. Rusted iron, copper with patina, and tarnished silver all have qualities you have to wait for to see. What you don’t have to wait to see, though, is our Rusty Dunes Fort Knocks. See what we did there?

Kanye West ft. JAY-Z with “Diamonds from Sierra Leone - Remix”

Diamond gemstones are a large part of our society, tied to joyous occasions, love, wealth, beauty, success, and more. There’s no denying the mesmerizing quality of their sparkle and clarity, but if you’re looking to purchase one you should make sure to research the background of your new rock. Unfortunately, many diamonds come from unethical sources, often at the detriment of those who mine them. Kanye addresses the underbelly of the diamond industry in the remix of “Diamonds from Sierra Leone,” a version he recorded after learning about the “blood diamonds” harvested there and the civil war that resulted from this practice.

A Google search should help you find an ethically sourced diamond the next time you’re looking for one (which probably happens all the time, right?). Better yet, lab grown diamonds ensure you know where your stone is coming from, plus they’re better for the environment, are more pure, and can save you a ton of money!

Turnpike Troubadours with “Diamonds and Gasoline”

This title sounds like a payment plan from a Mad Max movie, does it not?

Bonus: AC/DC with “Hard as a Rock”

Since diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring substance on Earth, jewelers usually have to use other diamonds to cut the ones they’re working on. But they’re not the only ones who can harness the strength of these stones for crafting. You can easily get diamond tipped drill bits (not as expensive as you’d think) to drill through things like glass, stone, ceramic, and more. For example, if you have a plant pot that needs a drainage hole, you can use a diamond-tipped bit to create one (careful though, just because they’re super hard doesn’t mean they can’t crack the object being drilled into, so do a little homework before you begin boring).*

*Disclaimer: We are not responsible for broken plates, countertops, mugs, pint glasses, gemstones, window panes, or any other substance demolished by action taken after reading our rudimentary crafting tip.