| “ |
Please m-my diamond I-I |
” |
| —Onyx[1] | ||
Carbonado is an unaligned Gem, and an original character created by KJD. Carbonado was formerly a member of the Great Diamond Authority, but was sentenced to shattering by White Diamond because of her compassionate demeanor toward her subordinates and thus was unable to achieve her perfect standards. However, she survived and managed to escape.[5]
Appearance[]
Carbonado has a tall and slim body with long arms and legs. Her skin is cool dark gray and she has two black eyes with white diamond-shaped pupils, a sloped nose, and defined lips. Her hair is black and is very short, resembling a buzz cut. Her gemstone is located on her navel and is black.
Pre-regeneration (debut)[]
She wore black diamond shaped earrings along with a sleeveless very dark gray and black crop top. She also wore long black gloves on both hands and a long black skirt.
Post-regeneration (current)[]
She wears an opaque black visor, and a very dark gray and black crop top with a sharp and angular collar. On both arms she has black gloves with matching tall high heeled boots, and she also now has a very long black skirt that exposes her right leg.
Personality[]
Carbonado is beautiful, caring, kind, strong, powerful and somewhat intimidating upon first meeting. "Never judge a book by its cover" — she's a passionate follower of this ideology and continuously rejects Homeworld's tyrannical concept of treating Gems as lower, less valuable beings.[6]
History[]
| “ |
In the beginning, there were two. One formed in Light, and one in Dark. Designed to perfectly balance each other. They were equals and both had their own strengths. But the Light saw weakness in the Dark… She was compassionate to the lesser beings she was supposed to dictate. Her kindness made her weak in the eyes of her sister. The power she was given to control others didn’t work on her sister so her cold logical mind came to only one conclusion - to destroy her, salvage her shards and try again to mold her into the equal she felt she deserved. But, things didn’t go as planned. The Dark survived the ambush by her sister and fled. Her gem was cracked, her sight gone. After managing to use her powers to stabilize the chip in her gem, she resigned to the fact that this was her new life. Hidden far away, damaged, but not broken. Light would not win. Her betrayal would not make the Dark’s heart cold like hers. She would not be bitter or seek revenge. She would live her life out here, on this lifeless wasteland of a planet that had already been harvested to its core, and continue to protect those others in need. The ones she loved. She would be better than the one that wronged her. She would stand tall, proud, compassionate and powerful still. No longer as Black Diamond, but as her other name - Carbonado. |
” |
| —KJD[5] | ||
Black Diamond was the second Diamond to exist, predating Yellow Diamond, Blue Diamond, and Pink Diamond. In her original story, all three Diamonds conspired to broke her gem under White's command, but as of her canon reveal in the Diamond Days arc, this has been retconned.[7]
Upon emerging, Black was adopted by White Diamond as her "sister," now that she told her to open her eyes; there was much to be done.[8] She was given a batch of Onyxes to be part of her court — wherever consisted of many types of black/grey/brown Gems; she was around long enough to have a decent amount in it[9] —, which she grew to become passionate toward.[1] Because of glee and happiness and White Diamond's inability to control her, Black Diamond was doomed to shattering.[7]
The procedure failed and Black Diamond managed to escape to a deserted colony with the help of her Pearl, adopting the name Carbonado.[5] One thing she carries from that attack is a crack in her gem, which was stabilized, but leaves her blind.[10] The Gems beneath her court were delegated to the other Diamonds and refuse to speak of her under the danger of being shattered.[11]
No one can only knows what happened to her now that the Diamonds failed to address things, allow her to have been absolutely forgotten. Gems still tell stories in speculation of what truly may have happened to Black Diamond, but it's publicly regarded as a taboo subject. Amongst Off-Colors and deserters, there are murmurings of a Wasteland Queen that offers sanctuary.[2]
A few Gems have managed to find her from her old court, she regrettably had to leave them all behind when she escaped. Anyone that finds her she's happy to accept into their "home,"[12] a "hidden dwarven city" with a lot of technology.[13]
Abilities[]
Carbonado possesses standard Gem abilities, bubbling, fusion, regeneration, agelessness, and superhuman strength/durability. Her strength likely played a significant role in how she survived the shattering attempt, and also why the crack in her gem became stable rather than becoming worse.[14] She also cannot shapeshift, due to her cracked gemstone.[15]
Fusions[]
- When fused with Black Pearl, they form Black Aura Quartz.
- When fused with Red Diamond, they form Cherry Diamond.
- When fused with Black Star Sapphire, they form Black Star Diopside.
Unique Abilities[]
- Nega-Ergokinesis: Carbonado possesses the ability to manipulate and solidify dark energy. This is how her crack remains stabilized.
- Hallucikinesis: Carbonado can manipulate illusions, an ability that aided her in her escape from Homeworld.[16]
Relationships[]
Followers[]
Black Pearl[]
Black Pearl is Carbonado's Pearl, which she took with her and treats as an equal and a trusted friend.[17]
While they have never fused, neither of them would be opposed to it, it just never came up.[18]
Shungite[]
Shungite is one of the Gems from Carbonado's original Black Diamond court, and was among the first group to escape Homeworld after she was rumored to have been shattered. She sensed their presence and drew them to her so she would be able to protect them.
Shungite is a skilled technician similar to Peridot and is one of a handful of Carbonado's most trusted friends that assists in keeping the off-colors, fusions, and defective Gems seeking a form of safe refuge. She also attends scouting missions in order to search and retrieve Gems in need of help.[19]
Past Subordinates[]
Onyxes[]
| “ |
They're beautiful. I can't believe they're all mine. |
” |
| —Carbonado[20] | ||
During her Black Diamond era, Carbonado received a large group of Onyxes to be part of her own court as a gift from White Diamond.[1]
After Carbonado was driven away, they were transferred to White Diamond's court. Some of them defected with other members of the Black Diamond court amidst rumors she was still out there somewhere.[21]
Moonstone[]
If Carbonado ever met Moonstone, she'd probably be happy for her much like all the other Gems that come to her, that she's free to exist and be herself away from Homeworld.[22]
Steven Universe[]
| “ |
I want to make Steven myself. |
” |
| —Carbonado[23] | ||
Carbonado would find Steven extraordinary, should they ever meet, as the fusion of a Diamond and a human.[23]
The Great Diamond Authority[]
Carbonado loved them like sisters, in a way she still does,[24] though White Diamond was the only one she ever met.[7]
White Diamond[]
| “ |
It should be such a shame to waste a resource as valuable to you. Don't worry dear, I'll fix you so you come out right next time. |
” |
| —White Diamond to Carbonado[25] | ||
In her early years, Carbonado was misguided and influenced by White Diamond, who attempted to mold her into a more ruthless leader. Unfortunately for White, Carbonado only grew to love and care for the Gems that relied on her more.[1]
However, she was defiant towards White, refusing to act accordingly. Gems didn't fear her, which, in White's eyes, was a danger to the hierarchy.[26] As Carbonado was the only one that couldn't be controlled by her, White Diamond cracked her. In her mind at the time, harvesting her gem was the only option; she'd recreate her from the shards to be more in sync with her way of thinking.[27]
As of late events, White Diamond would assume that Carbonado is long gone by now but would probably have some guilt about it from her new found emotions.[7]
Trivia[]
- Due to her cracked gemstone, Carbonado has black sclera that can appear relatively jarring to others, so she covers them with her visor. She is also mostly blind, but can still see things as shadowy figures.
- KJD describes it as a combination of severe retinitis pigmentosa and nyctalopia.[28]
- Carbonado's attempted murder was near the beginning of Gem society, far before Pink Diamond's demise. Because of this, most modern Era 3 Gems are unaware of her existence.[29]
- The crack on her gem is stabilized, so it's not causing her any further harm. She thinks of it as a more of a scar to bear that made her who she is, and thus wouldn't let Steven heal her if they ever met.[10]
- If Pink Diamond and Carbonado switched places, Rose Quartz would be an Onyx. This is assuming her gemstone never cracked.[15]
Gemology[]
- Carbonado, commonly known as "black diamond", is the toughest form of natural diamond.
- It is an impure form of polycrystalline diamond consisting of diamond, graphite, and amorphous carbon.
- It is found primarily in alluvial deposits in the Central African Republic and in Brazil.
- Its natural color is black or dark grey, and it is more porous than other diamonds.
- Carbonado diamonds are typically pea-sized or larger porous aggregates of many tiny black crystals.
- The most characteristic carbonados have been found only in the Central African Republic and in Brazil, in neither place associated with kimberlite, the source of typical gem diamonds.
- Lead isotope analyses have been interpreted as documenting crystallization of carbonados about 3 billion years ago.
Gemstone[]
| Image | Description |
|---|---|
| Black Diamond's gemstone is located on her midriff, featuring an octagonal facet, and a diamond shape overall. It is slightly cracked. |
Gallery[]
