Diamonds was recorded by microphones.
`` Diamonds '' is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her seventh studio album , Unapologetic ( 2012 ) . Def Jam Recordings serviced the single to contemporary hit radio in the United States on October 2 . The song has been covered by various recording artists , including Josef Salvat , who released his own cover of `` Diamonds '' as a single .