GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

India

Virtually all known Diamonds before the 18th century came from India, from surface alluvial deposits in Hyderabad. A few have come and still do come from Borneo, further east. The centre of the ancient world Diamond trade was the small town of Golconda. From India came mainly small Diamonds, of course, but also several quite famous large Diamonds,

GEMS which have romantic histories, sometimes linked with wars, often with murder, invariably with Royalty. To name but three of these are the celebrated Koh-i-Noor, the blue Hope and the great Orloff.

The Koh-i-Noor (this means 'Mountain of Light') was found in Golconda before the year 1300 weighing when found 800 carats, but it was cut down to 186 carats. It belonged to the Mogul Dynasty until secured by conquest in 1739 by the Shah Nadir of Persia. In due course, in 1849, the East India Company claimed it as an indemnity after local wars, and it was presented to Queen Victoria. In 1862 it was re-cut to nearly 109 carats and it is now part of the Queen's coronation crown.

The Hope is believed to be part of a blue Diamond, weighing 112 carats, brought back from Kollur, Golconda, in 1642 by the Frenchman Tavernier and re-cut to 67 carats for Louis XIV. It was stolen at the time of the French Revolution and never recovered. But, curious to say, a 44-Carat Diamond believed from its colour to be a cut-down of Tavernier's original blue, appeared in London in 1830 and was acquired by Hope. This stone is now in the Smithsonian Institute in the U.S.A. and is valued at one million dollars.

The Orloff, a Diamond of great perfection, now in Moscow, weighs almost 200 carats as a cut gem. It originated from Kollur, also early in the 17th century. After many adventures it was acquired in 1774 by Prince Orloff, who presented it to Catherine the Great of Russia as part of a political move to curry personal favour. The move failed, but the Diamond went to decorate the Royal Sceptre of Catherine.

These are merely three celebrated historical Indian Diamonds and there are many others, some of which have vanished, some still extant. These include, for instance, the Akbar Shah (75 carats), Darga-i-Noor ('Sea of Light' - 186 carats), Eugenie (51 carats), Great Mogul (280 carats), Nepal (79 carats), Regent (410 carats rough, 140 carats cut), and so on.

After all this tale of remarkable Diamonds, and of course innumerable small ones, the present position of Diamond mining in India is a sorry story. For the mines virtually dried up in the mid 18th century. The annual output from India during the past few years has been less than a mere 2000 carats a year, worth perhaps between £25 000 and £40 000. The famous Regent alone was sold for £135 000 in 1717! It is still on display at the Louvre.