De Beers has released The Great Indian Diamond Archive, a curated compilation of 12 historically significant diamonds originating from India, as part of its ‘A Diamond is Forever’ initiative.
Launched on March 31 in New Delhi during Diamond Month, the archive documents the origins, movement, and historical context of these diamonds, positioning India as the earliest known source of diamond mining.
Historical data referenced in the archive indicates that diamond mining in India dates back to the 4th century BCE. The Golconda region, particularly areas along the Krishna River, served as a primary source of diamonds before discoveries in other regions shifted global supply.
The archive includes well-known diamonds such as the Koh-i-Noor, Hope Diamond, Regent, and Daria-i-Noor, all of which are traced back to Indian origins. These stones moved across geographies over time through trade, conflict, and royal transfers, becoming part of institutional, private, and royal collections.
Several of these diamonds have been re-cut across different periods, resulting in changes to their physical characteristics and recorded identities. Today, some are housed in museums, while others remain within private holdings.
The Great Indian Diamond Archive consolidates these stones into a single documented framework, combining available information on their geological formation, historical ownership, and geographic movement.
De Beers stated that the archive does not attempt to rank the diamonds, citing the distinct historical trajectories of each stone as a limiting factor for direct comparison.
By presenting both physical and historical data, the archive serves as a reference for understanding the evolution of diamonds from Indian mines to global markets, and their role in shaping the modern jewellery trade narrative.
