Diamonds: Where Do They Come From?

As April's birthstone, diamonds have been the subject of many of this month's blogs.  The timeless beauty and charm of diamonds has long been cherished.  A fascinating part of diamond's history are the places that the beautiful gems has been found.  Here's a quick around the globe to visit some famous diamond localities, past and present.

Diamonds from India - Until about 1730, the Golconda region of southern India was the only diamond-producing region in the world.  A number of the world's most famous diamonds were unearthed there:

• The Hope Diamond, a 45.52 carat fancy dark grayish blue diamond

• The Idol's Eye, a 70.20 carat very light blue diamond

• The Koh-i-noor, a 105.60 carat set in Great Britian's crown

Diamonds from Brazil - Golconda's diamond mines are long depleted.  As India's diamond mines began to dry up, new sources were discovered in Brazil and from around 1730 to 1870, Brazil supplied most of the world's diamonds.  Alluvial deposits (surface deposits formed by running water which can contain concentrations of valuable minerals such as gold, diamonds or other gemstones) were found in the states of Minas Gerais, Bahia, Mato Grosso and Roraima.  

• The Star of the South, a 128.48 carat Fancy Light Pinkish-Brown diamond was the first diamond from Brazil to receive international acclaim.

Diamonds from South Africa - While Brazil still produces some diamonds, its role as the world's largest supplier faded quickly with the discovery of large diamond deposits in South Africa in the 1870s.  The discovery of diamonds in South Africa kicked off a diamond rush.  The country became the world's largest producer and the birthplace of the modern diamond industry.

South Africa produced the largest gem-quality diamond ever found, the Cullinan diamond, weighing 3,106.75 carats in its rough form - an historic event for the diamond industry.  The rough diamond was cut into nine major stones and 96 smaller ones.  The two largest cut diamonds from the Cullinan rough are set in the Crown Jewels of Great Britain.

Present-day diamond producers - Since the late 19th century, diamonds have been discovered around the globe.  The chart below shows the top 10 producers in recent years.

Colored or colorless, big or small, wherever their origin - diamonds continue to captivate.  Thank goodness their brilliance and sparkle can be enjoyed by all of us - not just those with an April birthday!


Source:  GIA 4Cs Blog