Diamond Jewelry: A Brief History
There is hardly anyone we know who does not own a piece of diamond jewelry. Have you ever wondered about its history? We’ve chronicled their entire story for you to read!
Diamonds arose long before dinosaurs roamed the planet.
Diamond derives its name from the Greek word ‘adamas’, which means invincible. They survive the extremely brutal forces of nature to catch up with us and are usually brought to the Earth’s surface through volcanic activity. Diamonds usually have to travel more than 100 miles to reach the Earth’s surface and the sheer amount of hardship they endure truly makes them invincible and indestructible as per the meaning of their name.
Diamonds were first mined in ancient India. They were known as ‘Vajra’ which means lightning. Slowly and steadily, the news about its uniqueness, rarity and beauty spread among aristocratic families around the world and popular trade routes around the world did the rest.
The oldest reference to the diamond is found in a Sanskrit manuscript dating from 320 to 296 BCE. C in India. That is almost 3 millennia ago. At that time, in India, diamonds were mainly used for decorative purposes and as a talisman to ward off evil. The refractive property of diamond is the most likely reason for its use in ancient India.
The first diamonds were brought from India to Europe by Alexander the Great in 327 BC.
Some popular beliefs around diamonds were truly beautiful. The Romans believed that Cupid’s arrows had diamond tips. Coincidentally, it was the first association between diamonds and romantic love. The Greeks thought that diamonds were the tears of the gods or the splinters of shooting stars. These various concepts in different cultures were simply an ode to the beauty of diamonds.
Over time, a relatively small number of diamonds became part of the jewelery of the royal families of Europe. In the 13th century, the Emperor of France, Louis IX, enforced a law that reserved diamonds only for the king. The next 100 years saw the appearance of diamonds; evident in the real jewelry of men and women.
The demand for diamonds multiplied as more and more of them reached the European continent. The diamond cutting industry originated in Venice only after 1330 and reached Paris in the late 14th century.
In 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a gold ring with an M written in diamonds. This is perhaps the first known use of a diamond engagement ring.
In the 18th century, diamonds became even more abundant. Diamond jewelry was worn by more women. At the time, it was considered vulgar to display them during the day.
However, few revolutionary events of the next century changed the fate of diamonds forever. He rose to fame like never before. The discovery of unprecedented deposits in South Africa changed the diamond’s status from a rare gem to one potentially available to anyone who could afford it. And as the taste and capacity for affluent consumption flourished among America’s wealthy capitalists, diamond jewelry scaled new heights.
Today, diamonds are mined in more than 25 countries around the world. It is mined on all continents except Europe and Antarctica.
Diamond production has increased enormously. From India’s peak production of 50,000 to 100,000 carats per year in the 16th century to around 100 million carats per year today!
Today, it is available all over the world and has led to the widespread availability of diamond jewelry for many purposes.
Diamond-encrusted jewelry is undoubtedly the envy of all. Find out more about them at Krishna Jewelers Pearls & Gems.