Brief history of Diamond discovery

The first diamonds were discovered in India, specifically in alluvial deposits along the Penner, Krishna, and Godavari rivers, around 2500 BC.

While their brilliance wasn't initially the primary focus, their hardness and ability to cut other materials made them valuable. Over time, diamonds became sought after for their beauty and were traded along the Silk Road, making their way to Europe by the 1400s.

The earliest known mentions of diamonds and their discovery date back to the 4th century BC in India. The KGK Group notes. Some historians estimate that India was trading diamonds as early as the 4th century BC.

Initially, diamonds were prized for their hardness and ability to be used as cutting tools, rather than for their brilliance. They were also used as adornments, talismans, and were believed to provide protection.

Diamonds found their way to Europe through trade routes like the Silk Road, becoming fashionable accessories for Europe's elite by the 1400s.

As diamonds became more widely known, their brilliance and light-refracting properties became a major point of appeal, leading to their increased use in jewelry.

The discovery of large diamond deposits in South Africa in the 1860s revolutionized the diamond industry, leading to large-scale mining and significantly increasing the supply.