Diamonds Through Time: Myths, Magic, and Majesty

The story of the diamond begins in India, rich in deposits along the rivers Krishna, Godavari, and Penna. The first references to diamond use in Ancient Rome originated from India.
The Romans utilized it as an engraving tool due to its unparalleled hardness. In China, diamonds were revered as talismans believed to ward off evil.
Until the 18th century, diamonds were primarily extracted from river deposits, predominantly in India. Later, the first diamonds emerged in Brazil and other parts of South America.

It wasn't until 1867 that the first diamonds were discovered in South Africa. Many ancient civilizations believed that diamonds possessed remarkable healing powers, such as curing brain diseases, alleviating pituitary gland disorders, and drawing toxins from the blood.

Legend suggests that diamonds can foster creativity and imagination in their bearers. People believed these gems could open their minds to the realm of the impossible. Diamonds were also seen as symbols of wealth and the power to manifest abundance. Since ancient times, the diamond has stood as a symbol of eternal love, trust, and faith.


Throughout history, diamonds have captivated mankind with their alluring beauty and supernatural beliefs. Since their discovery around 2500BC, these precious gems have been at the heart of many myths and legends by cultures across the world, and been associated with virtues such as strength, wealth, power and love.

Why were diamonds considered so precious to mankind even before knowing how to cut them into the sparkling treasures we know and love today?

The form of a rough diamond (an octahedron) was considered an ideal configuration consisting of 6 sharp points, 8 flat planes and 12 straight, sharp ridges. From the earliest of times, the diamond was considered a magical intermediary between man and the unseen forces of nature that governed his fate.

In the time of the Pharaohs, 3000BC, a diamond was placed in the middle of the ankh – a cross with a loop on top. This was the Egyptian hieroglyph meaning life. Diamonds represented the sun, symbol of power, courage and truth.

The Hindus, who were known to use diamonds in the eyes of their statues, believed that diamonds were created when bolts of lightning struck rocks. Diamonds were also believed to attract lightning bolts. The Indian deity Krishna gave his love Radha a great diamond – believed by some to be the Koh-i-Noor to reflect her beauty as it shone in the moonlight. “He who wears a diamond will see danger turn away” was a saying used in ancient India. The diamond’s purity, brilliance and ability to refract light gave way to the belief that diamonds were a symbol of clarity and invincibility.

The ancient Romans and Greeks had powerful beliefs about diamonds, including the thought that diamonds were the tears of the gods or splinters that had broken off of falling stars. Roman literature also stated that Cupid’s arrows were tipped with diamonds. Classical Greek philosopher Plato wrote about the idea of diamonds as living beings that embodied celestial spirits.

In the Middle Ages (between the 5th and 15th century), diamonds were thought to have exceptional healing abilities and considered to be a “miracle stone”. They were believed to have the ability to cure stomachaches, memory loss, depression, fatigue, infections, mental illnesses, nightmares, skin diseases and other head and heart ailments. It was believed that a diamond could cure simply by being placed on a part of the body.