The First Diamond

It is interesting that diamonds were first found in India near Hyderabad about 2300 years ago but they were never cut because of the belief that the stone had magical properties that would be destroyed by cutting. However, melting diamonds and other stones through alchemical processes is known in the ancient Ayurvedic science, which still survives. In Ayurveda, diamond is a cardiac tonic and when added to other medicines, enhances therapy. The best of the elixirs prescribed to cure TB, obstinate urinary diseases, diabetes, anemia, edema and impotence also contain diamond. Diamonds had their place as one of the twelve in the sacred mala of the Brahmins.

The British eagerly appropriated the Indian diamond mines in the early days of the Empire. Diamonds were found in 1725 in Brazil and South Africa and later, Borneo. Although diamonds are found in some measure in many countries, including Australia, there has never been a diamond found in Japan. Most true diamonds come from Africa, although they can be found at practically any volcanic area in the world. Synthetic diamonds are made in a laboratory, but they almost never can compare to natural ones. They are mostly used for industry; rarely do they have quality good enough for jewelry making. The major company that deals with diamonds is DeBeers.

The largest diamond ever found was the Cullinan in 1905 in the Transvaal, South Africa. It weighed 3,106 carats. In 1908 it was cut into 9 large and 96 lesser stones. Two of the largest are in the British Crown Jewels.

At one time only royals had the means to wear such luxury. One king, Louis IX of France, instituted a law that no commoner could wear diamonds. Agnes Sorel was the first commoner in France who had the privilege to wear them. As mistress of King Charles VII, she received them as a gift from the king.

Diamonds never come cut and clean from the rough. They are usually odd shaped and it is usually difficult to detect a diamond without it having been cut. Diamond cutting is a very complex art because it requires great molecular knowledge of the crystal structure and great mathematical knowledge. Cutting can be measured by the way the light refracts in the diamond.