History of Diamonds

The history of wearing diamond jewelry is as ancient a custom as any on record. Diamonds appeared in early history to be of primary importance, after the seeking of food and shelter, within societies. It has been assumed that the wearing of diamonds was originally motivated by a desire to remember the spring with its promise of food and warmth, and later in history, the diamond became a personal adornment, a symbol of rank and wealth.

The Greek word " Adamas " means unconquerable and indestructible. This is the origin of the word diamond Sanskrit texts from India contain one of the earliest references to diamonds and suggest that diamonds were known and ascribed value at some time before 400 bc.

The diamond is the oldest item one can ever own. Diamonds are Pure Carbon. It is one of the earth's most common elements. It is a simple material, found in graphite pencils and fireplace soot. Diamonds were formed, and crystallized eons ago under incredible heat and pressure deep in the earth.

During the earths growing phase millions of years ago, great volcanic forces pushed the "blue earth" containing diamonds to the surface where they were scattered along rivers and into the oceans. In 1870, in South Africa a diamond was found in the earth far from a river source, and the practice of dry-digging for diamonds was born. These were the beginnings of modern mining.

Roman literature of the 1st century ad contains another early reference to diamond, and the diamonds known to the Romans undoubtedly came from India. India was for centuries the greatest source of diamonds in the world and is known for most of the famous historical diamonds.

Although diamonds discovered in Borneo around 700 ad were an important source for Southeast Asia, India was the only source of diamonds known to Europeans until the 18th century. Europeans believed that diamonds were found only in the fabled mines of Golconda, near present-day Hyderâbâd. Golconda was in fact the market city of the diamond trade, and gems sold there came from a number of mines.

The earliest evidence of diamond cutting dates to the 1330s in Venice. Europeans began to trade diamonds on a regular basis early in the 15th century with the opening of trade routes to the east. A second source for Europeans became available when diamonds were discovered in Brazil in 1726. The Brazilian diamond trade is the world's main producer of ballas and carbonado.

The identification of a "pebble" picked up by a child on the banks of the Orange River in South Africa in 1866 as a 21-carat diamond precipitated the opening of diamond fields in that region. The rush to search for alluvial diamonds in the gravel of the Orange and Vaal rivers greatly accelerated in 1870 and 1871 following the discovery of "dry diggings" in the district near present-day Kimberley.

These diggings were roughly circular patches of yellow clay containing diamonds. As the miners dug deeper in the clay, often called "yellow ground," they found a hard, bluish rock below it that also proved to be productive.

This blue ground, a rock called kimberlite, is the parent material from which yellow ground is formed by weathering. Further mining disclosed that the circular areas of yellow and blue ground are the tops of funnel-shaped volcanic pipes of kimberlite. Prospectors have found similar pipes, not all of which contain diamonds, at various other locations in Africa and other continents.

South Africa quickly became the leading producer of diamonds in the world. During the late 19th century De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd., led by British colonial statesman Cecil Rhodes, was formed there. To this day the De Beers cartel controls a large portion of the world's natural diamond production.

Many early cultures and many countries used diamonds for their own reasons, each with their own meanings. Ancient man used the raw diamond to create tools and carvings. For example, when tribes in Africa and the Middle East expanded their trade with one another, these rare stones became a mode of exchange, the world's first hard currency. The symbols and representations of the diamond are expansive and individual.

For some it meant the key to magic, healing, protection and even poisoning. To others its wealth, prosperity, status, and everlasting love. It was even said that in ancient Greece and Rome Cupids' arrows were tipped with diamonds which had an effect equal to nothing. They have been the strength, power and symbols of Kings and Queens, the ruin of kingdoms, and the teardrops of forgotten Gods.

Throughout history, rulers wore large diamonds as badges of rank. Diamonds were also convenient portable wealth in the early days of India. Most of the famous diamonds that still exist are Indian, and all have eventful and sometimes bloody histories. The French traveler Jean Baptiste Tavernier brought a number of them to Europe.

Today one of the most common uses of the diamond from a sociological aspect is in the Wedding, Engagement ring. Even in the 2nd Century Rome the ring was used in the ceremony before the Emperor and his blessing. The custom was then continued and mostly Christianized by the 4th century by St. Augustine.

Byzantine wedding rings are thick gold bands with round or oval bezels depicting the couple face to face, or receiving Christ's blessing of their eternal union. Today the diamond Ring, commits a man and a woman to each other with the expression of strength, purity, brilliance and the indestructible bond of love.

The legacy of the diamond will continue. It existed at the dawn of civilized man and will adorn for years to come. It will be part of Weddings, celebrations, a part of love and prosperity, a part of intrigue and beauty and a part of every woman's heart that keeps one on her finger. Men will always swear love by it, and love will always maintain the brilliance of earth's great gift, the diamond.