Diamond News
Brief History of The Diamond
Long before modern marketing had adopted the diamond engagement ring as the truest symbol of eternal love, as far back as the middle ages, the wedding band bearing this beautiful stone was regarded as a promise of forever and the diamond alone has, through history, been revered, almost worshiped at times, for it’s value and supernatural qualities.
The De Beers Company
It is popular amongst cynics to attribute the fame of diamonds to the South African De Beers company.
These cynics claim that without an all-out marketing campaign launched by De Beers in 1947, and many subsequent and successful marketing ploys since then,the diamond would not be as highly valued and desired as it is today.
While it is true that De Beers did, in fact, popularise the diamond engagement ring, making it almost the standard of romantics everywhere with the coining of the phrase “A diamond is forever”, the value of this iconic gem predates De Beers, and even the engagement ring, by several hundred years.
The diamond engagement ring
The inception of the engagement ring can be traced to the year 1215, when the Pope, Innocent III, declared that a longer waiting period between betrothal and marriage should be adhered to. With this dictate came about the use of plain engagement rings of gold or metal to symbolise the union.
Later, gems were added to the engagement rings of the aristocracy as symbols of their status and wealth.
The first recorded exchange of vows made over the glimmering form of a diamond set in gold was the betrothal of the “last knight”, Archduke of Austria, Maximilian I, to his beloved Mary of Burgundy. This was in the year 1477.
The value of the diamond itself, however, was acknowledged even farther back than this.
Diamonds in India
Some 3000 years ago the Indians revered the diamond for its strength, it’s beauty and it’s supposed supernatural protection. In fact, up until the early eighteenth century, India was the only place in the world where one could purchase diamonds.
Diamonds that made it into Europe came via the Indian diamond trading routes
This fact most likely served to further the diamonds reputation for mystery and the supernatural, especially in European countries where India was synonymous with tales of adventure and riches, with heroes like Sinbad facing danger and rescuing maidens in the boyhood dreams of European youths.
Diamonds of Golconda
The most prized Indian diamonds are known as the “Diamonds of Golconda”, some of the most famous of these are the Hope Diamond, Koh-i-Noor Diamond, Orlov Diamond, and Sanc Diamond.
Diamonds today
Today diamonds are most widely used as engagement rings, their durability and beauty making them the perfect symbol for undying love. The diamond industry is flourishing and the diamond’s long history of value and reverance continues strong into the new millennium.