For my next few posts, I've decided to tell you a bit about the history of
diamonds and the role that they've played in different cultures over the course of history. Like with everything else, it is customary to begin at the beginning. And in the case of diamonds, the beginning is believed to be India.
India is the world's largest diamond polishing industry, a development that has only started recently. But apparently, the relationship India has with diamonds is much deeper and older. The first diamonds, it is said, were discovered and mined along the rivers Penner, Krishna and Godavari in India. Great alluvial deposits were discovered in India, containing a precious gem the Indians call Vajra, which transliterates from Sanskrit to “thunderbolt”. Diamonds were revered in India for their beauty as well as their great abilities to heal, provide protection in battle and keep evil spirits away.
Business City of Mumbai
In 327 BC, Alexander the Great invaded India, in his quest to conquer the entire known world, which the Greeks believed ended in India. Although he was eventually forced to withdraw from his campaign, he managed to bring some diamonds back with him to Europe. Around that time, India started diamond trade, exporting it to Babylon, Mesopotamia, Egypt and Arabian countries and even
Israel.
India is home to some of the world's most famous historical diamonds. The Koh-i-Noor Diamond, which was once considered the largest diamond the world, was the possession of many Sikh, Perisan and Mughal rulers, who waged war against each other in the diamond's name. Koh-i-Noor eventually became part of the British crown jewels. More notable Indian diamonds include the Orlov, the Regent Diamond, and the Hope Diamond – which was stolen from an eye of a sculpted idol of the Hindu goddess Sita, wife of Rama, and is believed to be cursed.
After a long period of complete dominance over the global diamond industry, new diamond deposits were discovered in Russia, Brazil, Australia and Africa, while the commercial potential of the Indian diamond deposits had been exhausted by the late 18th century.
Today, India is home to the world's leading diamond cutting and polishing center, providing 11 out of every 12 processed diamonds in the jewelry around the world. The diamond sector in India employs 1.3 million people. Although once the Indians initiated the taboo against diamond cutting, today India leads in the field of cutting and polishing diamonds.
Tune in next week when we review Belgium and its diamond history!