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Which Country Mined Diamonds For The First Time
Diamond mining in India :
Diamond mining in India extends back into antiquity. India was the source of nearly all the world's known diamonds, and until the discovery of diamonds in South Africa in 1896, India was the only place where diamonds were mined. India has not been a major diamond-producing country since the 1900s. In 2013, India mined 37,515 carats of diamonds, from one industrial-scale mine and many artisanal mines, this was less than one-tenth of one percent of the world production of 132.9 million carats.
The earliest producing diamond mines were in the Golconda region of India. Diamonds were found only in alluvial deposits in Guntur along the rivers Penner, Krishna and Godavari in Southern India.
The ancient Indians used a Tandula as a unit of measure, which was equivalent to the weight of a grain of rice. Their currency was called the Rupaka, and according to a price list written in Sanskrit in the Third century, a diamond that weighed 20 Tandulas was worth 200,000 Rupaka. The empire had no banking system, so the citizens had to keep all of the currency they possessed with them. Wealthy citizens of this empire preferred to convert their wealth into diamonds, as it allowed them to better store their riches. This was the first instance diamonds were used as an investment! In the fourth century B.C., the rules for the assessment of precious stones, the Ratna Pariksa was codified. Ratna Praiksha—an ancient science on testing gemstones—was used by Kosadhyaksha (Superintendent of Treasury) in order to control business of pearl, diamonds and all important gems in the ancient times. It was mentioned in Arthasastra (“The Lesson of Profit”) by Kautiliya (also known as Chanakya)
The Kohinoor Diamond
Koh-I-Noor, dating back to 1304, is a diamond that was originally 793 carats when uncut. Once the largest known diamond, it is now a 105.6 metric carats diamond, weighing 21.6 grammes in its most recent cut state.
The Koh-i-Noor was mined in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. The diamond was originally owned by Kakatiya Kings which had installed it in temple of Goddess as her eye. The diamond was later confiscated by various kings who won over the previous owners.
Diamond was stolen by British after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Today the diamond is a part of British Crown Jewels. Kohinoor Diamond on Queen's crown Kohinoor Diamond on Queen’s crown
