It’s widely believed that natural diamonds were first discovered thousands of years ago in the storied mines of the Golconda region: the birthplace of some of the world’s most fabled jewels like the Koh-i-Noor. Since then, they have played a crucial role in the proceedings of royal courts and been the pride of ancient empires.
Diamonds have long been a symbol of power and prestige. Early civilisations celebrated their light, strength and spiritual significance. In ancient tales of Hindu mythology, natural diamonds were considered lucky talismans that channel the energy of divine forces and protect their wearers from harm.
The incredibly rich tapestry of natural diamond history is what enhances the appeal of the gemstone even today. Woven through with myth, magic and meaning, it’s not hard to see why the treasured jewels became one of the world’s first cultural status symbols or why the allure of natural diamonds still shines so brightly.
Why natural diamonds remain treasured symbols
Did you know that natural diamonds date back billions of years? In fact, scientists estimate the oldest ones are between 3.5 billion and 90 million years old.
According to Courtney Ann Stewart, art historian, gemmologist and curator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the first known references to a diamond appeared in 1st century CE Rome. At the time, diamonds were kept in their raw octahedral form (picture the shape of the diamond in a deck of cards) to preserve their carat weight and natural purity.1
In those early days, diamonds were called ‘adamas’, a Greek word meaning ‘unconquerable’ or ‘indestructible’.2 In ancient Hindu scriptures, diamonds are referred to as ‘Vajra’, which in Sanskrit means both ‘diamond’ and ‘thunderbolt’. Lord Indra, the king of lightning and thunder, was also believed to have a vajra3, his special celestial weapon that was created from the hardest substance on Earth – diamonds. Fittingly, diamonds continue to hold the title of the hardest naturally occurring substance on Earth.4
As trade routes gradually expanded, diamonds began to travel, particularly from India, the world’s leading diamond source at the time. This opened access to the Kollur mines in the Golconda region, from where some exceptional natural diamonds were transported to lands as far as China and Rome.
The gemstones’ invincibility and rarity made them popular choices for royal figures. An excellent example is Shah Jahan’s Peacock throne. The magnificent jewel-studded throne took seven years to make, and among the scores of gemstones that it featured, there was one diamond that we continue to be fascinated by today: the Koh-i-Noor.5
Across cultures, natural diamonds have always had a divine connection too. In Greek culture, they were thought to be the tears of gods or fragments of fallen stars.6 Even Plato spoke of their celestial origins.7
How diamond astrology has shaped cultures
Even today, natural diamonds’ cosmic link to light or fallen stars lives on. Scientifically, we know natural diamonds formed from carbon atoms or ancient stardust during Earth’s formation some 4.5 billion years ago. And their sparkle? A reflection of their pure crystal structure – which makes sense, since diamonds have been connected to stars and sunlight for centuries.
The history of diamonds in India is closely connected with the world of cosmology and astrology, with diamonds being associated with the planet of Venus (or Shukra) that symbolises harmony and prosperity. As per Indian astrology, wearing a diamond is said to empower Venus in one’s birth chart.
The symbolism has shaped religious practices across the world. In Egyptian culture, radiant gems were often used in sacred symbols like the ankh — a cross-shaped emblem of life. While diamonds themselves weren’t common, the light they reflect has long been associated with divine energy and sun worship, especially in connection to Ra, the powerful sun god.
Natural diamonds’ royal connection
Stewart points to ancient Turkish texts describing a dramatic diamond mining tale – deep valleys filled with venomous snakes were said to guard the precious gems. Brave men would toss chunks of meat into the valley, hoping the diamonds would stick to them, before vultures swooped down to pick up the meat, along with the diamonds, and unknowingly delivered them to higher ground. Risky? Definitely. But a fascinating indication of just how far people were willing to go to claim the world’s most coveted treasure.
Thankfully, diamond recovery has evolved since then. And as early trade routes connected East and West, the status of natural diamonds only grew. One of the most famous diamonds in history, the Koh-i-Noor, first emerged in records linked to India’s legendary Kollur mines.8 This pale, colourless gemstone has links to Persian, Afghan, Indian, Sikh and British royalty — a rare jewel with a deeply layered legacy. Its name translates to ‘Mountain of Light’, and, in many cultures, is seen not just as beautiful, but as a divine blessing with mystical powers.
Koh-i-Noor is just one of the scores of exceptional natural diamonds that were discovered in India. Case in point? The Regent Diamond that was discovered in the mines of Paritala in the late 1600s. The story of how it made its way out of India to be eventually considered one of France’s most coveted jewels is one that’s marked by suspense and tragedy, making for an especially intriguing chapter of diamond history. Another historically rich diamond discovered from the mines of Golconda that was pivotal in shaping diamond heritage is the pale-pink-Darya-i-Noor that weighs over 180 carats!9
Natural diamonds were considered such unique treasures that they were often used by dynasties across the world to adorn ceremonial wear such as crowns and swords. From the Ottoman empire and the Mughals to erstwhile rulers of Indian princely states, royals chose diamonds to showcase their material and cultural wealth.
Diamonds that changed the course of history
The Koh-i-noor: a contested icon of diamond history
Some trace the Koh-i-Noor’s origin back to 3200 BCE, though other records connect it to Sultan Babur of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century.10
It was carefully passed through dynasties and empires over the years before Iranian ruler Nader Shah seized it during the 1739 sacking of Delhi. Later, it landed in the hands of Afghan and Sikh rulers, before being taken by the British after they annexed the Punjab region in 1849.
In the world of diamond history, the Koh-i-noor is by far the most hotly contested. Why? Because many believe that it should be returned to India, the land where it was discovered.
Today, the 105.6-carat (it originally weighed 191 carats11) diamond sits among the British Royal Crown Jewels, recut and reshaped, but no less beautiful and still loaded with meaning.
The Sancy: elegance in perfect proportion
The Sancy diamond didn’t have a journey quite as dramatic as the Koh-i-Noor’s, but it remains one of the most cherished in diamond history. A pale yellow, shield-cut jewel, it was one of the first known diamonds to be cut symmetrically — a dramatic turning point in the evolution and style of diamond culture.
Originally mined in India, the gemstone got its name from Nicholas Harlay de Sancy, a French financier and ambassador. It acted as a pawn in wars, got stolen, and a loyal servant even swallowed the stone!
Plus, legend has it King Henry III borrowed the diamond to cover a bald spot on his crown. Eventually, the Sancy made its way into the French royal collection, to be worn by Louis XV at his 1722 coronation. Today, you can admire it in person at the Louvre in Paris.12
The Cullinan: crown jewel of diamond history
One of the most famous royal diamonds of all time, the Cullinan, came from South Africa. Discovered in 1905 at the Premier Mine in the Transvaal region, this breathtaking blue-white gemstone weighed in at a staggering 3,106 carats13,making it the largest rough diamond ever found.14 In fact, its clarity and size were so extraordinary at the time that it ended up being gifted by South Africa to England as a gesture of political goodwill and unity.
The enormous responsibility of cutting the Cullinan went to renowned Dutch jeweller Joseph Asscher. With extreme precision, he managed to transform the rough diamond into nine spectacular large gemstones and nearly a hundred smaller ones. From among the smaller stones, many were given to Asscher as his fee for cutting the diamond as expertly as he did.15
Some of the most celebrated cuts of the Cullinan now live in the British Crown Jewels, including the Sovereign’s Sceptre, the elegant ceremonial staff held by kings and queens during formal royal occasions.
Why natural diamonds remain icons of glamour and fame
There’s a reason celebrities can’t stop wearing natural diamonds. And for today’s A-listers, diamonds aren’t just a piece of jewellery, they’re statements of success. The grander, rarer and bolder the diamond jewellery, the bigger the flex – whether on the red carpet or their social media grid.
At the 2025 Met Gala, Shah Rukh Khan made his debut with a stack of handcrafted 18ct gold chains, embedded with old mine-cut and brilliant-cut natural diamonds. Similarly, Diljit Dosanjh paid homage to his heritage with a custom necklace inspired by the legendary Patiala Necklace, featuring over 2,900 diamonds.
Films have long centred around the allure of beguiling diamonds, too – from Marilyn Monroe’s glittering jewels in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes to the fictional blue diamond necklace that falls into the Atlantic Ocean in Titanic.
Endowed with unmatched rarity and a shine that never fades, natural diamonds have, understandably, turned into symbols of wealth, fame and glamour. They are a symbol of strength, individuality and, dare we say it… pure magic!
Sources
- Courtney Ann Stewart, De Beers History of Diamonds talk in May 2025 ↩︎
- Purelydiamonds.co.uk, How diamonds are formed ↩︎
- World History Edu, The Vajra: Symbolism, Origins, and Cultural Significance ↩︎
- University of Cambridge, Harder than diamond: have scientists really found something tougher than natural’s invincible material? ↩︎
- Smithsonian Magazine, The True Story of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond—and Why the British Won’t Give It Back ↩︎
- Cape Town Diamond Museum, Diamond myths and legends ↩︎
- Diamond Rocks London, Diamonds in Greek and Roman mythology ↩︎
- Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Koh-i-Noor ↩︎
- Britannica, Regent diamond ↩︎
- Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Koh-i-Noor ↩︎
- Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Koh-i-Noor ↩︎
- Baunat.com, The Sancy Diamond: one of the loveliest diamonds in the world ↩︎
- Royal Collection Trust, The Cullinan Diamond ↩︎
- Royal Collection Trust, The Cullinan Diamond ↩︎
- GIA, The Cullinan Diamond Centennial: A History and Gemological Analysis Of Cullinans I And II ↩︎
