The 17 Most Famous Golconda Diamonds

| image: GIA

According to the legend while Russell Conwell, an Englishman was travelling down the Tigris and Euphrates rivers there was a farmer named Ali Hafed, from ancient Persia now Iran today. Whom Ali Hafed sold his land property to Russell Conwell, due his not contented with his current life and want to be a wealthy man. While Russell Conwel moving around to his new property near on the riverbank he found a stone finding it out that it was a rock of diamond. That day, they discovered the diamond mines of Golconda.

Historic spot of Golconda fort| image: southreport.com

Golconda Fort is known for world's most productive diamond mine between 1080 CE - 1687 CE, originally this place was Mangaladevi a temple for worshiping discovered by Ram Dev Rao, a shepherd on a hill named ‘Golla Konda‘ during 1080 CE; it was ruled in the thirteenth century by then the Kakatiya rulers. Most of the diamonds and other gems that from these fort are came from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states of India which during the time these two states are under the Qutbshahis (Qutb Shahi) dynasty, 1538 CE, a most dominating territory in South India back in 16th century.

Emperor Aurangzeb at the Siege of Golconda, 1687

In 1636 where it began the siege of Golconda fort led by the forces of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb against the ruling Qutbshahis dynasty which it took eight-month bloody battle before Emperor Aurangzeb and his forces managed to penetrate the gate of Golconda due to its built with massive fortifications throughout successive generations on a granite hill over 400 feet high with an enormous eight-mile long wall enclosing the city to protect the territory from the attacks of elephantine elephants. Then Golconda fort finally fell into ruin in 1687 CE, after a year long siege leading to its fall at the forces of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, 1618 - 1707

Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, his real name Muhi-ud-Din Muhammad, he is commonly known by the sobriquet Aurangzeb "Ornament of the Throne", or by his regnal title Alamgir "Conqueror of the World". His reign lasted for 49 years from 1658 until his death in 1707 at age of 88 and died due to his age. Aurangzeb was a notable expansionist, authoritarian and during his reign, the Mughal Empire reached its greatest peak, ruling over nearly all of the Indian subcontinent.

Under his reign, India surpassed China once again to become the world's largest economy, worth over $90 billion, nearly a quarter of world GDP in 1700. Historians believed that after the acquisition of this great Golconda fort by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was also the start of his downfall.

Most of the diamonds from Golconda are classified as '2a' meaning complete - lack of Nitrogen element impacting its clarity which the common cause for a value of diamond to decrease, this classification commonly used by gemologists.

Note image A and C these are the notable landmarks built by Kakatiya dynasty, in Hyderabad, a Ramappa Temple built in 13th century; the dynasty that has once ruled the remarkable land in India including the famous Golconda. Image B is a necropolis of Qutbshahis, photo by Maheshrig, 2011.

Qutbshahis dynasty are highly concentrated of people from Persia and Turkic tribes, natives from Central Asia, reason most of the name of these diamonds are derived from this prolific dynasty.

Diamonds from Golconda trading center were transported to Hyderabad; which its original name is 'Baghnagar' meaning 'City of Gardens'; to be cut, polished, evaluated and sold, this market last until end of 19th century.

Not only diamonds were traded in this central market also other valuable items coming from silk road like metalwares, pearls, spices, salt, and textiles coming from its neighboring countries such as Europe, Egypt, Arabia, Somalia, Persia, China, and Java. By 1880s, Golconda was being used generically by English speakers to refer to any particularly rich mine, and later to any source of great wealth.

During the Renaissance and the early modern eras, the name 'Golconda' acquired a legendary aura and became synonymous for vast wealth. The mines brought riches to the ruling Qutbshahis of Hyderabad State, who ruled Golconda up to 1687, then to ruling Asaf Jah of Hyderabad State, who ruled after the independence from the Mughals in 1724, until 1948, when Hyderabad was annexed, to become an Indian state.

These are the famous Golconda diamonds not in particular order nor color, see below the corresponding letters.

These are the seventeen famous diamonds from the renowned Golconda, forgive me for not in particular order nor color: 

L)Nassak diamond, 43.38 carats

A)Sancy diamond, 55.23 carats

H)Shah diamond, 88.7 carats

?)Great Mogul diamond, 280 carats

N)Regent diamond, 140 carats

?)Nizām diamond, 340 carats

B)Orloff diamond, 300 carats

J)Daryā-e Nūr diamond, 182 carats

?)Golconda diamond, 135 carats

K)Koh-i-Noor diamond, 105.6 carats

D)Hope diamond, 67 carats

?)Kolluru diamond, 63 carats

G)Dresden Green diamond, 41 carats

F)Princie diamond, 34.65 carats

C)Archduke Joseph diamond, 78.54 carats

M)Wittelsbach-Graff diamond, 31.06 carats

E)Noor-ul-Ain diamond, 60 carats

I have sliced some of this diamonds' hidden stories finding the reasons for its famous and infamous had been linked to many illustrious people from Europe to America, up to the Kingdoms of Arabia, Persia, Russia and India. Some were now in historical museums like Louvre Paris and National Museum of Natural History run by Smithsonians' and some were still on its way home. 

These precious diamonds are not only elegant and classic in social or elite gatherings still and all it hold legendary stories that have values, a common denominator for its market price is high as sky. Notable business moguls usually say its not the stone that it cost however the legend it kept for hundred of years perhaps famous paintings and metallic jewels may tarnished and loose its brilliance though diamonds do not, low in maintenance, can be refitted, and value is increasing over time despite the fact that diamonds are limited and rare.

I am totally mystified about the Hope diamond reason I made a blog back in 2009 related to it. I guess I am one of the victim of this cursed Hope diamond and creep me to other diamonds to published its stories, imagine it took me years for me to be convinced. I am hoping to further outlined the other remaining Golconda diamonds that I have not yet blogged for you my readers.

"I do not have neither own any diamonds nor gems withal its brilliance that I really can't resist furthermore its tale". - Qolfera

Famous Golconda Fort, 1080 CE - 1687 CE

Note: Most of the photos here are taken from Pinterest, this post is not intended for copyright infringement nor plagiarism.

Note: I have tried my best to attribute images to their creators and original sources. Please contact me at qolfera@gmail.com, if you know the source of images that are not attributed. Read Qolfera's disclosure policy.