The Insight

After years, the fury of nature in the form of winds, water, heat and cold reworked landscapes while these gems stayed intact and hidden, awaiting for their radiance to sparkle to the world unknown.

Just a few managed to survive, out of which a small amount with an appropriate size and good quality were cut and polished to be renowned as some of the finest pieces of jewelry. Diamonds are rare and are found only in a few secluded sites, spread among the oldest parts of the continents. For years, the only source known to man was one remote area in India, where diamonds were first appreciated for their capacity to disperse light.

New discoveries were made in Borneo in the 7th century and in Brazil in the 18th century. Despite its insignificant size, the Brazilian finding was so popular that the ruling Portuguese marked the occasion with great joy. Festivals were staged in Lisbon, with special masses said and messages of congratulations were sent by the Pope and European monarchs.

More celebrations came in 1866 when, at last, a truly significant source of diamonds was discovered in South Africa. Strangely, it owed nothing to the art or energy of the world's eager prospectors. A farmers' child was playing with some brightly colored stones found beside a river, one of which was recognized as a diamond.

The gem cut from it was appropriately named 'Eureka' and it marked the start of a remarkable new episode in the story of the emergence of diamonds.

At present, in spite of modern technologies, diamonds are still difficult to discover. Geologists search relentlessly for these precious gems, usually in very remote places, like the frozen tundra of Siberia and Canada to the parched deserts and ocean floors of Africa.

There are different shapes of diamonds and they are sought by many people who can afford them. They are a sign of royalty and glamour .Some of the world renowned diamonds are in the crown of kings and queens.

KOH-I-NOOR ('Mountain of Light') was first mentioned in 1304, it weighed 186 carats and was an oval cut stone.  It is believed to have once been set in the famous peacock throne of Shah Jehan as one of the peacock's eyes.  Re-cut in the reign of Queen Victoria, it is among the British Crown Jewels and now weighs 108.93 carats.

The Cullinan was the largest diamond ever found was 3,106 carats in rough and originally weighed just less than one and a half pounds.  It was found in South Africa and was named after the owner of the mining company. The Cullinan was cut into 9 major stones and 96 smaller stones. The largest was named the “Star of Africa” and is 530 carats by itself.