Diamonds for Royalty

Diamond History (cont.)

In the 11th Century, the Turkish born Queen Synadene of Hungary wore a crown – which still exists today – set with unpolished, uncut diamonds. In the 13th century, French and English royalty started to wear diamonds with some regularity. These were polished stones, however.

It was not until 1477 when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a diamond ring to his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy, that the gem came to symbolize love in the same sense as we know it today.

Into the 16th and 17th centuries, diamonds were becoming popular with and available to nobles other than royalty. Wearing what were referred to as 'scribbling rings', lovers would use diamonds to etch flirtatious whimsies on glass to give to one another. Practitioners were said to include Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh.

By 1725, the Indian source of diamonds was on the ebb. Fortunately, a strike was made in Brazil, which continued as a prime source of the stones until 1867.

Next: The Modern Diamond Industry

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