Indian Jewelry » Indian Diamond Jewelry

India is the first country of the world which discovered gems and initiated the gem-craft. The gems produced here gave birth to a fabulous industry and global trade.

Africa, the former Soviet Union, Australia, Canada are comparatively latecomers to the list of natural diamond producers. The period when India reigned supreme was glorified by the production of all-time great, peerless diamonds. Among them are the Great Moghul (280 carats), the Nizam (277 carats), the Regent (140 carats), the Florentine (137127 carats), the Koh-i-noor(108 carats), the Arcot (57.35 carats) and the Hope (45.52 carats). .

Among the half a dozen largest rough diamonds ever found figures India's Great Moghul which originally tipped the scales at 787.5 carats. Alluvial mining appears to have been confined to the valleys of the Krishna and Fabulous Indian gems, priceless masterpieces of Indian gem-craft, like the Peacock Throne (Takhte-Taus) found their way to other parts of the world and were greatly cherished.

Currently, diamond mining survives only in Panna. The maximum production per annum from this source after nationalization has touched 20,000 carats. It averages 18,000 carats. Both quality gems and industrials are found there. The diamond crystals belong to two crystallographic forms, hexasis octahedron & hexasis tetrahedron, with many flats, twins and barrel shape forms. The cost of production has been going up.

The mine is required to produce at least 30,000 carats to break even, but the production has been averaging only 15,000 to 18,000 carats.