Golconda diamonds

(Redirected from Golconda Diamonds) Antique Indian diamonds

Golconda diamonds
A 1733 map of Golconda Sultanate—the term Golconda diamond became synonymous to the diamonds of good quality.
Color	Typically colorless; less often blue, translucent white, and pink.
Cut	Antique cushion
Country of origin	India
Mine of origin	Kollur mine, Paritala and mines of Godavari delta

Golconda diamonds are mined in the Godavari-Krishna delta region of Andhra Pradesh, India. Golconda Fort in the western part of modern-day Hyderabad was a seat of the Golconda Sultanate and became an important centre for diamond enhancement, lapidary, and trading. Golconda diamonds are graded as Type IIa, are formed of pure carbon, are devoid of nitrogen, and are large with high clarity. They are often described as diamonds of the first water, making them among history's most-celebrated diamonds. The phrase "Golconda diamond" became synonymous with diamonds of incomparable quality.

For 2,000 years, Golconda diamonds were the only-known fine diamonds. Due to centuries of excessive mining, their production was exhausted by 1830, and gemologists and traders have classified Golconda diamonds as antique, rare and precious. Famous Golconda diamonds include the colourless Koh-i-Noor, the Nassak Diamond, the blue Hope Diamond, the Idol's Eye, the pink Daria-i-Noor, the white Regent Diamond, the Dresden Green Diamond, and the colourless Orlov Diamond, as well as now-untraceable diamonds such as the yellow Florentine Diamond, the Akbar Shah, the Nizam Diamond, and the Great Mogul Diamond.

The Golconda diamond industry was at its peak from the 16th to 18th centuries when 23 mines, of which Kollur Mine was the most active, operated in the region and 30,000 people at a time worked in one mine. The output from all of the mines in Golconda is estimated to be around 10,000,000 carats (2.0 t). In 2015, Osmania University in collaboration with Geological Survey of India discovered potential new sites for diamond mining in the region, though as of 2022 mining had not started.

Several literary legends were inspired by Golconda diamonds; these include Sindbad the Sailor's valley of diamonds, the gem lore of Marco Polo, and the theme of Russell Conwell's inspirational lecture "Acres of Diamonds". According to folklore, some Golconda diamonds are cursed; these impart good luck to their owners or have mystical powers while others were worn as talismans. In 2013, the Princie Diamond from the Jewels of the Nizams was auctioned for US$39.3 million—the highest-recorded auction price for Golconda Diamonds and the world record for US$1.1 million per carat. In a heist in 2019, the Dresden White Diamond was stolen along with jewels worth US$1.2 billion.

Geology

The Golconda diamondiferous region is located in the Southern Indian peninsular shield, which was formed during the process of proterozoic and Insular India. The region is spread over 50,000 km (19,000 sq mi), within the sediments of the Krishna-Pennar river basin and Deccan Traps, and contains 120 out of the 150 kimberlite pipes in India. Though kimberlite and lamproite are the primary rock source, conglomerate and placers had yielded the majority of the region's diamonds. The Geological Survey of India has categorized kimberlite pipes of southern India into clusters Southern Wajrakarur kimberlite, Northern Narayanpet kimberlite, and Central Raichur kimberlite of these, the Timmasamudram kimberlite cluster—a part of Southern Wajrakarur kimberlite—is significant.

History

Mining

Main article: Golconda diamonds mining and trading

The peak period of Golconda diamond mining was the 16th-to-18th centuries, when the region was controlled by the Golconda Sultanate and the Nizams of Hyderabad. The mines were leased under the supervision of regional governors, of whom prominent 17th-century diamond trader Mir Jumla became the Grand vizier (Prime Minister) of the Golconda Sultanate. He established a network of diamond merchants in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia—up to China and the Malay Archipelago. Shantidas Jhaveri was another 17th-century diamond trader.

Golconda diamonds were mined from alluvial soils alongside river beds. Mines were usually up to 4 fathoms (7.3 m; 24 ft) deep. When mining reached groundwater, digging was halted. Stony substances were then collected for assortment and examined for diamonds. Raw diamonds from the mines were typically transported to Golconda—now the western part of Hyderabad—) for skilled lapidary, enhancement, further evaluation, and sale. The art of macle, which is a form of rough diamond that is used to produce jewellery, was first developed in the Golconda region. Of the 38 diamond mines in India at the time, 23 were located in the Golconda Sultanate, of which Kollur Mine was prominent and employed 60,000 workers at one time. Most of these mines were fully active until 1830 but were gradually abandoned as they became either submerged by the backwaters of the Pulichintala irrigation dam or became depleted. Diamond mining in the region gradually declined and finally officially closed.

In 2015, the Centre of Exploration Geophysics of Osmania University and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) conducted research that identified three zones that contain 21 potential new diamond-mining sites near the delta of the Krishna and Bhima rivers, and in the beds of the Krishna, Tungabhadra and Penna rivers. According to the research, the sites contain volcanic pipes that probably bear kimberlite and possibly diamonds. According to Outlook India, in 2022, some companies applied for mining rights in the region of Andhra Pradesh, soon after the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) discovered diamond deposits in the seven districts of the state.

Trading

The Golconda region was a major trading centre and the source of the world's most-famous diamonds. Until the end of the 19th century, it was the primary source of the finest and largest diamonds in the world, making the name "Golconda diamond" synonymous with high-quality diamonds. It has been estimated the Golconda region traded around 10 million carats of diamonds. A unit of measurement for Golconda diamonds was the Ratti (7 ⁄8 of a carat), and the most-common currency was the Golconda Pagoda, which was also called Hun.

Golconda had been trading diamonds with European kingdoms since at least the days of Marco Polo (1254–1324). During the 1420s, Niccolò de' Conti, a prominent Italian traveller and merchant who lived in India, had a detailed account of diamond valleys in the Golconda region. The 15th-century Portuguese discovery of the sea route to India and the 16th-century Golconda Sultanate's new port at Machilipatnam increased the production and trade of Golconda diamonds. The emergence of demand for Golconda diamonds led to the exploration and discoveries of mines in the region that produced brilliant diamonds.

In the 17th century, under the Golconda Sultanate, when new mines were discovered and leased to the miners, an agreement called "Qaul" would be signed under the supervision of regional governors, according to which, for employing 100 workers, miners would pay four pagodas per day, and monthly rent was based on the strength of the workers on the mining site. Provisions were supplied only by the governor with 50 percent extra excise duty. Large diamonds from the site were exclusively reserved for the rulers and to be sold with concessions. Bania and Khatri castes—merchant and trading communities in India—held most of mines. In the early 1600s, some Dutch miners of the Dutch East India Company were granted mining rights. The 17th-century French explorer Jean-Baptiste Tavernier reported he was "permitted to examine" the egg-shaped Great Moghul diamond, which is now lost and said to have been cut into smaller diamonds. He reported having seen a flat diamond called the Great Table diamond in Golconda. Jean de Thévenot, François Bernier or Antoine Destremau were French traders in Golconda diamonds.

In 1621 and 1622, when the Golconda rulers learned about the demand for Golconda diamonds in Europe, they seized all of the mines and temporarily halted mining to increase the price, which then doubled. In 1627, high prices led Dutch traders to stop purchasing, and the British East India Company brought investments and purchased the diamonds. The company's monopoly continued alongside indigenous traders such as Mir Jumla II, Virji Vora, and Kasi Veranna until the mines became depleted in the 1830s. Most of the impoverished governments and princely rulers were removed from power, forcing them sell their jewels—including Golconda diamonds—which were later auctioned. Due to their royal lineage, mystical tales, and advertising campaigns by companies, Golconda diamonds became the global status reference.

Popularity

Historically, diamonds of high quality were mined in the Golconda region, and were reserved for emperors and rulers. Sometimes, diamonds were considered to have supernatural powers, and were worn as amulets and talismans. The Shah Jahan Diamond, which is currently part of Al Saba Collection, was once an amulet of Mughal emperors. Diamonds were treasured as gemstones, and were believed to be a gift from God to humanity, and owning them was a sign of supremacy. Golconda diamonds were popularized in the Middle East and the Western world by mediaeval and modern-period travellers and traders such as Niccolò de' Conti, Muhammad al-Idrisi, Marco Polo, and Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. Diamonds from India—most of which were Golconda diamonds—were used to decorate the crowns, coronets and sceptres of every nation; it was considered a point of pride by any ruler to own a Golconda diamond. The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century brought growth to the world economy, and the introduction of sophisticated cutting and polishing techniques led to a higher worldwide demand for diamonds. The popularity of Golconda diamonds has risen since the 1950s because of successful advertising campaigns by traders. They continue to be a popular gemstone in the 21st century.

Physical properties

Golconda diamonds are the world's most magnificent diamonds. They are formed of pure carbon and have no nitrogen, and are rated high on grading standards, giving them the rare Type IIa designation—(Type IIa count less than two percent of the world's natural diamonds.). They are large and naturally occur in many colours but most of them are known for their colourless clarity and material properties. Some are popular for their colours, for which they are characterized as Diamonds of First water.

Notable diamonds

Main article: List of the Golconda Diamonds

Although Golconda diamonds are known for their size and clarity, the diamond mines of the Golconda region are now depleted and inactive. Later discoveries of diamond deposits in regions such as Brazil post-1730, Australia post-1851, and Africa post-1866 provided significant supplies of diamonds, although their clarity generally does not match that of Golconda diamonds. For these reasons, Golconda diamonds remain among the world's most-celebrated diamonds.

Some of the notable Golconda diamonds are:

The Daria-i-Noor is part of the Iranian Crown Jewels collection of the Central Bank of Iran in Tehran
The Nizam Diamond went missing from Hyderabad after a police action in 1948
The Great Mogul Diamond and the Orlov Diamond are part of the Diamond Fund collection of Moscow's Kremlin Armoury
The Koh-i-Noor is part of the Crown Jewels, which are housed in the Jewel House at the Tower of London
The Hope Diamond is housed in the National Gem and Mineral Collection at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
The Regent Diamond passed through French monarchs Charles X and Napoleon Bonaparte to the Government of France, and is now part of the French Crown Jewels on display in the Louvre, Paris
The Idols Eye Diamond was stolen by a servant of Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II while he was in exile in Paris, where it was sold to an unknown Spanish aristocrat
The yellow Florentine Diamond was owned by Grand Duke Ferdinand I; it later became part of Austrian Crown Jewels and is now untraceable
The Akbar Shah was engraved with the names of the Mughal emperors Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan, and was later mounted on the Peacock Throne. After Persian ruler Nader Shah lost it, the diamond appeared for sale in Turkey; it was purchased by a British company that later reshaped it and sold it to the Indian Prince of Baroda Malhar Rao Gaekwad. The current possessor of the diamond is unknown.

The world's top-four pink diamonds are from Golconda. Cardinal Mazarin was an influential Chief minister of France during the reign of Louis XIII and Louis XIV; Mazarin, a connoisseur of jewels, sponsored Jean Baptiste Tavernier's journey to India to collect diamonds; among his collection is the 19.07-carat, light-pink Le Grand Mazarin Diamond, which he always kept close to him. In his will, Mazarin bequeathed the diamond to decorate the French crown; all of the French rulers from Louis XIV to Napoleon III have worn it. After France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1870), the diamond, along with other French Crown Jewels, was sold to settle the losses. Frederic Boucheron, a jewellery-house owner, purchased it.

Popular culture

While travelling in the Middle East in 1869, Russell Conwell, a lawyer and educator who founded Temple University in Philadelphia, US, met an Arab bedouin who told him a story in which "beneath Ali Hafed's farm sat the great mines and diamonds of Golconda". Intrigued by the tale, Conwell prepared his inspirational lecture "Acres of Diamonds".
In 1953, Golconda diamonds became popularized when actor Marilyn Monroe posed wearing Moon of Baroda to promote her movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, in which she performs the song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend". The song became a household phrase, and popularized the diamond—particularly on an engagement ring—as a symbol of romance and love.
In 1959, the Krupp Diamond ring was stolen from German actor Vera Krupp (1909–1967) in a robbery at her house. The diamond was recovered after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) became involved. In 1968, it came into the possession of Elizabeth Taylor, who renamed it the "Elizabeth Taylor Diamond". Taylor was fond of jewellery and owned a collection of gems and jewellery; she also published a book about her collection called My Love Affair with Jewelry (2002).
The Heart of the Ocean, a blue diamond necklace in the film Titanic (1997), was designed by London-based jewellers Asprey & Garrard, who took inspiration from three diamonds of the French Crown Jewels known as The Regent, the Marie Antoinette Blue, and the Hope Diamond.
The pink, cushion-cut, 34.65-carat Princie Diamond used to be part of the Jewels of the Nizams of Hyderabad; it was auctioned in 2013 by Christie's and sold for US$39.3 million, which is the highest-recorded auction price for a Golconda diamond and a world record for US$1.1 million per carat.
On 28 July 2014, the American television channel Animal Planet presented an episode called "The Golconda Curse" in the series Lost treasure hunters Season I.
The Cartier Toussaint Necklace in the 2018 film Ocean's 8 was inspired by the necklace of Ranjitsinhji, ruler of Nawanagar State in India. The main attraction of the necklace is its centrepiece 136.25-carat (27.250 g) Queen of Holland Diamond, whose place of origin is unknown but based on its characteristics, gemologists placed it among the Golconda diamonds.

Legends and folklore

According to a popular legend, the Koh-i-Noor should only be possessed by a female and will bring bad luck to a male. Alauddin Khalji, who obtained it from the Kakatiya dynasty, was murdered by his slave. Nader Shah, who looted the Koh-i-Noor from the Mughals and gave it its current name, was assassinated. Shuja Shah Durrani was overthrown by his predecessor and went into exile. Ranjit Singh died of a heart attack and when the diamond passed to the East India Company, it was passed on to Queen Victoria, after which it was successively mounted in the crowns of Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The latter crown, along with the other Crown Jewels, is on public display in the Jewel House at the Tower of London.

Accounts of ill fortune and curses are also associated with the Hope Diamond; Tavernier, who took the stone to Paris, was "torn to pieces by wild dogs" in Constantinople. Louis XIV gave it to Madame de Montespan, whom later he abandoned. Sultan Hamid of Turkey gave it to Abu Sabir to "polish" but Sabir was later imprisoned and tortured. An article entitled "Hope Diamond Has Brought Trouble To All Who Have Owned It" appeared in The Washington Post in 1908.

According to legend, the Regent Diamond was discovered between 1698 and 1701 at Kollur Mine. A slave worker who found the diamond smuggled it out by hiding it deep inside a self-inflicted cut. The slave wanted to escape from India with the diamond so he contacted the captain of a British ship. The slave and the captain agreed to share equally in the proceeds from the diamond's sale in exchange for safe passage. Later, the captain stole the diamond, killed the slave, and sold the diamond to an Indian merchant named Jamchand. Jamchand supposedly sold it to Thomas Pitt, who in turn sold it to Philippe d'Orléans.

According to pervasive folklore narrated by Marco Polo about his 13th-century visits to the Golconda region, the diamond valley was replete with venomous snakes, making obtaining the diamonds dangerous. The diamond traders took a herd of cattle to the hilltop near the valley. After slaughtering the cattle, they catapulted cow flesh towards the diamond valley; the flesh became stuck to the diamonds, which were picked up by eagles and vultures that carried the cow flesh to their nests to eat. The stones remained after the birds consumed the flesh, allowing the stones to be tracked and collected by the local merchants' workers. According to Jean R. Brink, who wrote Renaissance Culture in Context: Theory and Practice (2017), this legend is repeated in many mediaeval Arabic and Chinese literary works. It was also repeated by Marco Polo, who visited the region's capital Warangal but did not visit the mining sites.

Controversies, scandals, and heists

Being the world's most-famous, large, and valuable stones with interesting histories, Golconda diamonds attract envy and fascination, for which many controversies, robberies, and scandals have occurred. The Affair of the Diamond Necklace (1784–1786) was about a 2,800-carat necklace containing 647 gems. The incident brought ignominy to Queen Marie Antoinette and later instigated the French Revolution. In 1792, the French Crown Jewels were stolen from the Garde Meuble (Royal Treasury); although most of the jewels were traced, the thieves sold the Sancy and Regent Diamonds, and the Royal French Blue Diamond was cut and renamed the Hope Diamond. The thief returned the Mazarin Diamond in exchange for a pardon and the diamond was restored to the French crown. In 1811, Napoleon Bonaparte gifted his wife Marie Louise the Napoleon Diamond Necklace, which became a sensation during the Great Depression (1929) when Archduke Leopold of Austria was imprisoned on larceny charges connected with the necklace sale.

In 1980, a heist was executed at Sydney Town Hall, New South Wales, Australia, to steal the 95-carat yellow Golconda d'or diamond from an exhibition display. In 2019, the Al Thani Collection of Qatar faced a trial after purchasing the Princie Diamond in an auction without its heir's consent. The matter was settled out of court. In the same year, jewels worth US$1.2 billion were stolen in a heist from the Green Vault in Dresden Castle, Germany; along with other treasures, the 49-carat rose cut Dresden White Diamond, which was made into an epaulette during the Seven Years' War of 1756 AD, was stolen. The diamond belonged to 18th-century ruler Frederick Augustus I of Saxony.

Explanatory notes

The term Golconda mines originally denoted those (Kollur, Paritala, and other regional mines) that were mined during the Qutub Shahi period and continued until the time of the British Raj. The Deccan Sultanate of Qutub Shahis was known as Golconda Sultanate. Vajrakarur in present-day Anantapur district was a later-exploited mine and Amaragiri (present-day Kollapur, Mahbubnagar district) was not known until much later.
Historically colorless diamonds and general diamonds were mined from the Golconda region (within the alluvial deposits of the Krishna, Godavari and Penna rivers, because in those periods the term "Golconda diamonds" was not named, thus they were referred to as Indian Diamonds

References

For a map of their territory see: Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. University of Chicago Press. p. 147 map XIV.4 (l). ISBN 978-0-19-506869-6. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
^ Reddy, D. V. (2010). Engineering Geology. Vikas Publishing House. p. 546. ISBN 9788125919032. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
^ Mudur, G. S. (13 July 2015). "A Kohinoor tale, but don't rush to dig". The Telegraph India. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
^ Tata, Madhavi (5 February 2022). "On Golconda Rock". Outlook India. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
Shalivahan, Shalivahan; Rai, S. S.; Shah, Gokul (21 February 2019). "Occurrence of diamond in peninsular India and its relationship with deep Earth seismic properties". Indian Academy of Sciences: 1–8. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
Amar, Zohar; Lev, Efraim (2017). "Most-Cherished Gemstones in the Medieval Arab World". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. 27 (3). Cambridge University Press: 377–401. JSTOR 26187362. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
Laufer, Berthold (1915). The Diamond: A Study in Chinese and Hellenistic Folk-lore. Harvard University. pp. 10–15.
Anita, Nair (2014). Idris:Keeper of the Light. HarperCollins. pp. 1–10. ISBN 9789350297810.
^ Ogden, Jack (2018). Diamonds: An Early History of the King of Gems. Yale University Press. pp. 236–255. ISBN 978-0-300-21566-3.
^ Dasgupta, Reshmi R. (23 February 2019). "Celebrating the Nizam's fabled Golconda diamonds". The Economic Times. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
Pliny – Natural History 10 volumes. Translated by Rackham, H.; Jones, W. H. S.; Eichholz, D. E. Loeb Classical Library. 1938–1962. pp. 20–30. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
Poggio Bracciolini (1857). John Winter Jones (ed.). The travels of Nicolo Conti in the East in the early part of the fifteenth century. Boston Public Library. pp. 60–69. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
^ "Sinbad's Diamond Story May Have Happened". Daily Illini. 5 August 1947. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
^ Gomelsky, Victoria (20 March 2011). "The Market for Golconda Diamonds Has Mushroomed". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
^ "Diamonds on Location: Golconda". Gemological Institute Of America. 2002. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
Shigley, James. "Historical Reading List: Diamonds in Ancient India". Gemological Institute of America. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
^ Universal Gazetteer of the World: A Dictionary, Geographical, Historical and Statistical, of the various Kingdoms, States, Provinces, Cities, Towns, Forts, Harbors. Z. & B. F. Pratt. 1852. p. 357. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
Harlow, George. E (1998). The Nature of Diamonds. Cambridge University Press. pp. 73–75. ISBN 978-0-521-62935-5. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
^ Gupta, Harsh K. (2000). Deccan Heritage. Indian National Science Academy and University press. pp. 139–146. ISBN 9788173712852. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
^ Nair, Mandira (20 December 2020). "The sparkling centuries". The Week. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
Mahmood, Parvez (12 April 2019). "Persian adventurer in India". The Friday times. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
Konwar, Paranan (2019). "Mir Jumla's invasion of Assam (1662–63), war experience of a Dutch sailor Heiden and Translator Glanius". Indian Historical Review. 46. Department of Economics, Sonari College, Assam, India.: 41–54. doi:10.1177/0376983619856149. S2CID 200082670. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
Mahmood, Parvez (19 April 2019). "Persian adventurer in India". The Friday times. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
^ Mehta, Makrand (1991). Indian Merchants and Entrepreneurs in Historical Perspective: With Special Reference to Shroffs of Gujarat, 17th to 19th Centuries. Academic Foundation. pp. 96–102. ISBN 9788171880171. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
Accum, Michael Coulson (2012). The History of Mining: The events, technology and people involved in the industry that forged the modern world. Harriman House Limited. pp. 75–77. ISBN 978-0-85719-266-0. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
Accum, Friedrich Christian (1808). System of Theoretical and Practical Chemistry. Vol. 1. Kimber and Conrad. pp. 208–210. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
^ Taylor, Isaac (1830). A Nutshell of Knowledge Concerning the Mine. John Harris. pp. 34–40. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
"Golconda Fort". Government of Telangana. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
Beckett, Kathleen (4 July 2022). "Unraveling the Mystery of Macle Jewelry". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
^ Streeter, Edwin William (1882). Precious Stones and Gems, Their History and Distinguishing Characteristics. George Bell & Sons. pp. 108–110 and 126–131. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
^ Reddy, U. Sudhakar (28 April 2016). "India's iconic lost diamonds". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
^ Reddy, U. Sudhakar (19 September 2016). "Andhra Pradesh diamond belt is now Submerged". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
Akber, Syed (26 December 2021). "Telangana: Confluence of Musi-Krishna may throw up diamonds, says study". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
Akber, Syed (10 August 2015). "Telangana sitting on a bed of diamonds". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
Sikander, Sana (6 October 2020). "Don't be surprised – US too has a Golconda". The Siasat Daily. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
Sur, Aihik (14 February 2021). "Golconda gem may fetch at least $150,000 in auction". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
Baden Powell, Baden Henry (1872). Hand-book of the Manufactures & Arts of the Punjab. Punjab printing Company. p. 198. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
^ Alam, Ishrat (1998). "Diamond mining and trade in south India in the 17th Century". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 59. Indian History Congress: 314–321. JSTOR 44147002. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
Manzar, Nishat (2021). Urban wage earners in Seventeenth Century India: Artisans, Laborers, Service Providers and Entertainers. Routledge. pp. 348 and 400. ISBN 9781000395372. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
Akber, Syed (22 September 2017). "Hyderabad coins once more valuable than Mughal, French currency". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
Subrahmanyam, Sanjay (1988). "Persians, Pilgrims and Portuguese: The Travails of Masulipatnam Shipping in the Western Indian Ocean, 1590-1665". Asian Studies in Honour of Professor Charles Boxer. 22 (3). Cambridge University Press: 503–530. JSTOR 312594. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
Reddy, Ravula Soma; Sarma, Mukkamala Radhakrishna; Satyanarayana, A. (1996). Proceedings of Seminar on Industries and Crafts in Andhra Desa, 17th and 18th Centuries, A.D. Department of History, Osmania University. pp. 34–40. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
Nayar, Mandira (27 December 2020). "The sparkling centuries". The Week. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
Mishra, Sonali (2020). "European private trade in Masulipatnam. Intercultural dynamics in a pre-modern cosmopolitan hub". International Institute for Asian Studies. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
Hofmeester, Karin; de Zwart, Pim (2018). Colonialism, institutional change, and shifts in global labour relations (PDF). Amsterdam University Press. p. 69. ISBN 9789462984363. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
"Delving into the rich and often bloody history of Golconda Fort". The Hindu. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
Erlich, Edward; Hausel, W. Dan (2002). Diamond Deposits. Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. pp. 3–4. ISBN 978-0-87335-213-0. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
Dasgupta, Reshmi R. (23 February 2019). "People are always fascinated by gems with a royal cachet". The Economic Times. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- "The History, Heritage and Hype behind Golconda Diamonds". Gemmological Association of Great Britain. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- Jha, Rupa (6 March 2015). "The lavish lifestyle of India's royalty". BBC News. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
Tavernier, Jean-Baptiste (1889). Travels in India. Vol. II. Translated by Valentine Ball. Appendix, plate VI.
^ Braswell-Tripp, Pearlie (2013). Real Diamonds & Precious Stones of the Bible. Xlibris. p. 35. ISBN 9781479796458. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
Altman, Jenifer (2012). Gem, and Stone: Jewels of Earth, Sea, and Sky. Chronicle Books. p. 10. ISBN 9781452109077. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
Zubrzycki, John (2017). The Mysterious Mr Jacob: Diamond Merchant, Magician and Spy. Transit Lounge. p. 48. ISBN 9780995359512. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
^ "Princie Diamond: Rare Indian gem sells for $39m". BBC News. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
"Opulence, Indeed: Diamonds of the Deccan". Metropolitan Museum of Art. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
^ Nag, Ashok (13 May 2014). "Golconda diamond pendent to headline in Christie's Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels auction". The Economic Times. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
^ De Guise, Lucien (15 May 2022). "Works of art and history from the court of the Nizams of Hyderabad". The Straits Times. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
Sanford, Fanchon (1874). Diamonds and Precious stones. Scribner, Armstrong, and Company. pp. 55–56. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
Epstein, E. J. (1982). "Have You Ever Tried To Sell a Diamond?". The Atlantic. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
^ Fasel, Marion (27 November 2018). "The Golconda Diamond Marilyn Monroe made famous". The Adventurine. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
^ Vernose, Vienna (31 May 2020). "How Marilyn Monroe made diamonds famous". C R Fashion Book. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
^ Breeding, Christopher M.; Shigley, James E. (Summer 2009). "The-Type-Classification-System-of-Diamonds" (PDF). Gems & Gemology. 45 (2): 96–111. doi:10.5741/GEMS.45.2.96. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
Guy, Joseph (1817). Guy's School Geography. London: Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy. p. 91. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
Harris, Tessa (2016). Secrets in the Stones. Kensington Books. p. x. ISBN 9780758293428. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
Raden, Aja (2015). Stoned: Jewelry, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World. Harper Collins. p. 23. ISBN 9780062334718. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
Cave, Edward (1 July 1830). "The picture of India". The Gentleman's Magazine. Vol. 100. p. 52. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
Bernstein, Beth (1 April 2022). "Unique Diamonds For April's Birthstone". Forbes. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
^ Dundek, Marijan (2009). Diamonds. Noble gems publications. pp. 11–12. ISBN 978-0-9537884-5-3. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
Mokyr, Joel (2003). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Economic History. Oxford University Press. pp. 76–81. ISBN 978-0-19-028299-8. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
Crider, H. D. (1924). "The Story of the Diamond". The American Midland Naturalist. 9 (4). The University of Notre Dame: 178–181. doi:10.2307/2992728. ISSN 0003-0031. JSTOR 2992728. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
Akber, Syed (11 August 2017). "Celebrating the Nizam's fabled Golconda diamonds". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
Lewis, Sam (22 June 2022). "The most expensive jewellery piece in the world". Professional Jeweller. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
"'Idol's Eye' Diamond with Harry Winston Necklace Diamond: early 17th century, Necklace: mid 20th century". Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2000. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
Sucher, Scott (2022). "Famous diamonds". Jeweller Magazine. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
Mahmood, Parvez (14 September 2018). "A diamond that bore the names of three Mughal emperors". The Friday Times. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
^ "Le Grand Mazarin Diamond: The History of One of the Most Famous French Crown Jewels". Natural Diamond Council. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
"Acres of Diamonds". Temple University. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
Conwell, Russell Herman (1901). Acres of diamonds: a lecture. J.D. Morris and Co. p. 310. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
Fasel, Marion (27 November 2018). "The Golconda diamond Marilyn Monroe made famous". The Adventurine. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
^ Talon, Kettj (16 November 2020). "The Top 10 most iconic jewels in movies". NSS G-Club. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
Filby, Tamara Sturtz (2023). The Story of the Diamond: Timeless. Elegant. Iconic. Welbeck Publishing Group. p. 140. ISBN 9781838611613. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
"The Origin of Wedding Rings: Ancient Tradition or Marketing Invention?". Gemological Institute of America. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
"Krupp Diamond Theft". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
Fasil, Marion (27 February 2022). "Elizabeth Taylor's Signature Diamond Ring". The Adventurine. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
Vesilind, Emili (23 March 2011). "As a fashion icon, Elizabeth Taylor could turn simple into sexy, elegance into excess". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
Peltason, Ruth (23 November 2011). "Elizabeth Taylor: A Life in Jewels". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
Michaud, Chris (14 December 2011). "$116 million auction of Liz Taylor jewels breaks record". Reuters. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
DeMarco, Anthony (16 April 2013). "34-Carat Princie Diamond Fetches Nearly $40 Million, Setting Two Records". Forbes. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
"Lost Treasure Hunters: Season 1: The Golconda Curse". whatsnewonnetflix.com. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
Chang, Mahalia (13 October 2020). "Is The Cartier Toussaint Necklace From 'Ocean's 8' Real?". Marie Claire. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
"Queen Mary's Crown". Royal Collection Trust. Inventory no. 31704.
- "Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Crown". Royal Collection Trust. Inventory no. 31703.
- "Priceless gem in Queen Mother's crown". BBC News. 4 April 2002. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- Richa, Richa (20 April 2016). "The Kohinoor: Following the bloodiest diamond across history". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
Kurin, Richard (2017). Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem. Smithsonian Institution. p. 364. ISBN 978-1-58834-419-9. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
Post, Jeffrey Edward (2021). The Smithsonian National Gem Collection—Unearthed: Surprising Stories. Abrams Books. p. 342. ISBN 978-1-68335-940-1. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
Hazen, Robert Miller (1999). The Diamond Makers. Cambridge University Press. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-521-65474-6. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
Sanyal, Sanjeev (2016). The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian Ocean Shaped Human History. Penguin Books. pp. 43–45. ISBN 9789386057617. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
Brink, Jean. R (2017). Renaissance Culture in Context: Theory and Practice. Taylor & Francis. pp. 90–92. ISBN 978-1-351-90446-9. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
Bonsor, Kevin (2022). "How Diamonds Work, Famous Diamonds". HowStuffWorks. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
Lazatin, Hannah (15 August 2018). "7 of the World's Most Controversial Gems and Diamonds". Esquire. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
Doniger, Wendy (2017). "The Affair of the Diamond Necklace". The Ring of Truth: Myths of Sex and Jewelry. Oxford University Press. pp. 206–227. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190267117.003.0008. ISBN 9780190267117. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
Haydn, Joseph; Vincent, Benjamin (1881). Haydn's Dictionary of Dates and Universal Information Relating to All Ages and Nations. Ward Lock and Company. p. 240. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
Queralt Del Hierro, María Pilar (30 April 2021). "Stolen in 1792, the French Blue diamond's fate puzzled historians for centuries". National Geographic. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
Subramanian, Archana (10 September 2015). "Stolen!". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
Post, Jeffrey E.; Gaillou, Eloïse (2007). "An examination of the Napoleon Diamond Necklace" (PDF). Gemological Institute of America. pp. 352–357. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
Mahmood, Parvez (2 February 2018). "The diamond that was stolen twice". The Friday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
"Famed diamond stolen from exhibit". United Press International. 18 October 1980. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
Harris, Elizabeth A. (30 October 2019). "Christie's Auctioned a $40 Million Diamond. Was It Stolen?". The New York Yimes. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
"Police offer €500,000 reward over Dresden diamond heist". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
Holland, Oscar (29 November 2019). "Dresden museum heist: What we know about the stolen jewels". CNN. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
Hammer, Joshua (18 August 2021). "The Sopranos of Berlin A Brutal Crime Family and a Billion Dollar Jewel Heist". GQ. Retrieved 27 September 2022.

Misplaced Pages