Gavin Conway has been working with precious metals and stones for over ten years. He is an on and offline entrepreneur, working to maximize his potential in the rough and tumble business world of jewelry and investments.
The root word of diamond comes from a Greek word "Adamas" which means unconquerable or indestructible. Down through thousands of years, man has highly esteemed diamonds above other stones. Sought by Kings and Queens and fought for as a possession to show off ones wealth and power.
Kings would have large amounts of diamonds set into their breast plates as they marched into battle as protection against arrows and as ornaments.
Romance has always been attached to the diamond as the Greeks believed that the dazzle of the diamond reflected the constant dazzling affect of love.
The first alluvial (river-bed) diamonds are believed to have been found in India in 800B.C. but it is reckoned they have be known about for thousands of years before that and there was enough diamonds there to supply most of the world's demands until the 18th Century. More discoveries were made in Brazil which turned to be a huge player in the diamond market until 1866 when South Africa's gigantic diamond mine deposits were discovered, Africa today has accounts for roughly 49% of the worlds diamonds. Currently Canada has a diamond rush on but before Canada the was the Siberian rush in 1954.
The Cutting of diamonds was really only introduce recently, Antwerp as a matter of fact is considered the first place to begin systematic cutting in 1550. Before that it was a Hungarian Queen in 1074 A.D that had her crown set with uncut diamonds and is the earliest example of diamond jewelry we know.
The earliest date for polishing diamonds is the 14th century with diamond powder and that was in India and also there are historical references of the same practice happening in Venice.
Diamond Routes and Centers
The Diamonds from India travelled two routes, both Mediterranean. The southern was through Egypt, Ethiopia and Aden, and the northern route was by way of Turkey, Arabia, Armenia and Persia.
The Portuguese discovered a direct sea route to India and so Antwerp benefited by this and has become a world center for the diamond trade because it was well situated to receive the vast supplies from Lisbon as well as Venice for cutting.
After the Spanish attacked Antwerp in 1585, the diamond cutters feared and so many relocated to Amsterdam because of the liberal civil policies which attracted many diamond craftsmen which included many Jews who were feeling religious persecution in Portugal, Spain, Poland and Germany.
Later as England's interests became stronger towards India which at that time, late 1600's, was still the world leader in Diamond exporting, London became a center for cutting and also became the primary market place of the world for rough diamonds.
Its only in the twentieth century that the system for reading what the qualities of a diamond are, known as the four C's, was developed which looks at the color, cut, clarity and the carat of a diamond which determines its price in todays markets.
The major cutting centers of the world today include Israel, USA, India, Belgium and South Africa.
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