Diamonds throughout the history

Diamonds have undoubtedly came from India where they have been known for more than 3000 years, and some studies say even for more than 6000 years, and India was for centuries greatest source of worlds diamonds, especially in Golconda that was market city of the diamond trade with many gem mines.The earliest written text referring to diamonds is Buddhist’s text, the "Anguttara Nikaya" about 296 AD and later in 1st century AD diamonds are mentioned in some roman texts. For instance great Roman historian Pliny the Elder wrote about diamond's ornamental uses as its usefulness to engravers because of its hardness in his work "Naturalis Historia".Diamonds were first connected with divinity and were often used as religious icons in different religious ceremonies because people believed diamonds were luck-bearers. Diamonds were ever significant as class indicator, because only certain class could own specific color of the diamond and only kings had the right to own all colors of diamonds. But diamonds weren’t just used as gems, they were also used as drilling tools as archaeological evidence from Yemen from the 4th century BCE suggests.With the rise of Christianity diamonds have began losing their popularity in Europe because the Christians were refusing use of diamonds that were before used in Arabic world and also because the Arabic traders restricted their trade with Christian lands. This situation lasted until the beginning of the 14th century when things changed thanks to Venice’s trade network and shortly after this first guild of diamond polishers was established in German city of Nurnberg. This was really a turning point because that marks ending of taboo against cutting diamonds into gem shapes that lasted for more than 1000 years.Later Europeans began trading diamonds on a regular basis early in the 15th century with the opening of trade routes to the east. Various diamond cuts were introduced which demonstrating the fire and brilliance that makes diamonds treasured today: the table cut, the briolette (around 1476), the rose cut (middle of the 16th century), and by the mid-17th century, the Mazarin, which was the first brilliant cut diamond design.Legendary diamond cutter was Marcel Tolkowsky who developed an ideal round brilliant cut design which really become standard for modern diamond cutters. No matter what time it was in the human history, diamonds were always connected with richness and prestige. For instance great French Emperor Louis XIV issued a law under which only king could possess diamonds. 15th century also means beginning of diamond’s use in wedding rings although they didn’t gain widespread popularity all the way to its presentation in cinemas in the 20th century.India was the only source for diamonds all the way to 1726 when diamonds were found in Brazil. Today South Africa is leading producer of diamonds but substantial diamonds alluvial deposits have been found, in other parts of Africa, including Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Ghana, and Sierra Leone. Other major diamond producers are Australia, Siberia in Russia, Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana and big newcomer is Canada due to the discovery of diamond deposits in the Northwest Territories and Alberta in the 90s. Location of most commercially viable diamond deposits are currently found in Russia, Botswana, Australia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Canada and Russia (Siberia). In USA diamonds were found in Arkansas and Colorado which are up to this moment only states with a verifiable source of diamonds.