Diamonds: Over 50 books/5000 pages in Historical Diamond Reference Section
Famous Diamonds (Koh-i-Noor, Hope Diamond, Cullinan Diamond etc.)Famous Diamonds Review Works:
The Classic: Edwin Streeters's Great (Famous) Diamonds of the World
Mrs. Orpen wrote a standard work with additional Stories about Famous Diamonds
Go here for short summaries on "Famous Diamonds" (see table of contents of this book)
Koh-I-Noor, Hope Blue Diamond:
Famous French traveller (who brought back the Hope Diamond) Tavernier wrote about the "Koh-I-Noor"
Diamond Mining in South Africa
Gardner Williams was a General Manager of De Beers. His 1000+ page epic
work extensively describes the history of South Africa, its diamond
mines, mining, cultures, towns and work conditions.
Catelle also dedicated a large chapter to "South African Diamonds" in his classic on Diamonds.
Famous British jeweler Edwin Streeter (who competed with the Rothschildts for the rights of the famous Burma Ruby mines) extensively wrote about Diamonds in South Africa as well. More recent history in Hershey's Book of the Diamonds
Diamond References before 1800
Nicols on Diamonds (1652). (Sinkankas wrote "landmark gemology"; "attempt to scheme of classification", "large section on Diamonds" , "gem enhancements which are still pertinent today".
Samuel Chapuzeau on Diamonds (1667) He reduces the number of "hear-say" localities of Diamonds to 5 in total in the "East Indies" including the famous mines of Golkonda. Robert Boyle's Experiments on Diamonds (1664)
Georg Agricola (considered the "father of Mineralogy") wrote "De Natura Fosslium, diamond chapter (1655)
Al-Biruni (973 - 1048) one of Islam's foremost scientists on Diamonds
Diamond Lore and Superstition
In the 1500's it was believed in India that Diamond dust was a poison (and read how it was proven not to be !) whereas in Europe it was believed Diamonds protected against the plague (and read the hilarious reasons why !)
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Synthetic Diamonds
Professor Hershey on Synthetic Diamond experiments
De Beers Ernest Oppenheimer early responses on the rise of synthetic diamonds One of the earliest articles on HPHT synthetic diamonds by Sir Charles Parson (1893)
Diamond Mines in India and Brazil
British geologist Valentine Ball on Diamond Mines
Catelle on Indian Diamond Mines
Tavernier on Golconda Diamond Mines
Diamond Mines Brazil:
Brazilian Diamonds Overview
External Sources
Professor Aber's Diamond Overview : from facts to lore to museums. Excellent starting point.
Diamond and Fine Jewelry WWW Virtual Library
Wikipedia article on Diamonds.
Irridiation effect Diamond Color
Sir William Crookes was the discoverer of Thallium, identified the first sample of Helium, worked with Faraday and wrote a great book on Diamonds. He was the first to note the effects of Irridiation on Diamond Color in 1904
Arkansas Diamond MineDiamonds Mines Borneo Indonesia
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