History of Diamonds

Where in history did we first see the value andcenturies, the history of diamonds has received
beauty beheld in diamonds? What is the storyits meaning as the highest gift of one's love,
behind diamond engagement rings. The word,probably because marriage and love are
diamond, historically derived its roots fromseemingly as powerful & as indestructible as
"Adamas", a Greek word which meansthe gemstone itself.
unconquerable or indestructible. Diamonds haveThe first diamonds in history were discovered in
traveled our many different cultures throughoutIndia around 800 B.C. These diamonds were found
history affecting everyone in every possible way.to be a result of a volcanic source, however this
The ancient Greeks believed that diamonds weresource was never discovered. Indian diamonds
tears from the Gods. They were thought to becontinued to supply the world up until the
mystical and powerful stones that affected botheighteenth century, it was a large deposit. These
the heavens and the hearts. Diamonds todaydiminishing supplies spawned the next finds in
continue to hold this fascination as it didBrazil and in the mid 1800's, South Africa. South
throughout history.Africa had a massive diamond deposit, and was a
For thousands of years, it was the common beliefglobal supplier for a long time. In the mid 1900's
that diamonds contained special magic abilities andmajor diamond deposits were found in Siberia,
power for royalty. Diamonds were thought toand today Western Canada is the site of the
have the same powers as of Gods and theseworld's newest diamond mines.
powers contained within the fiery gems wereMost of the history of diamonds, the gemstones
beyond the common man's knowledge. Kingswere extracted from sand and gravel along river
would go into battle adorned with diamondbanks, like in India. However, when South Africa's
studded breast plates hoping that the physicaldiamond rush started new process of finding the
presence and the spiritual power of the diamonddiamonds not along waterways, but in the earth,
would bring them victory. The belief was sowas discovered. Still today, diamonds are for the
powerful and so widespread that warriors in battlemost part mined using various extracting
avoided the Kings and other nobles who weremethods.
porting the powerful gemstones. Over the