Key takeaways
• Distinguished jewelry historian Dr. Usha Balakrishnan will present a lecture on the history of Golconda and ancient Indian diamonds at the 41st World Diamond Congress.
• For nearly 2,000 years, India served as the world’s sole source of diamonds, with the Golconda region emerging as the most legendary source for purity, luminosity, and prestige.
• Distinguished jewelry historian Dr. Usha Balakrishnan will present a lecture on the history of Golconda and ancient Indian diamonds at the 41st World Diamond Congress.
• The session, moderated by luxury journalist Richa Goyal Sikri, aims to explore pre-colonial history and global trade origins to better understand human desires regarding precious stones.
(SINGAPORE) – On the third day of the 41st World Diamond Congress, on July 15, distinguished jewelry historian and author, Dr. Usha Balakrishnan, of Mumbai, India, will be presenting a lecture entitled “Golconda and Ancient Diamonds – A Historical Perspective. ”
“For nearly 2,000 years, every diamond the world had ever seen came from a mystical land, now known as India. These were stones that crowned kings, financed empires, crossed deserts and seas, and entered the great treasuries of the world. Within this vast span of history, one source emerged – Golconda – the most legendary source of all – renowned for diamonds of exceptional purity, coveted for their luminosity and revered for their prestige,” Dr. Balakrishnan noted.
Turban ornaments (sarpatti & kalgi), India, Deccan, early 18th century, National Museum, New Delhi
In this session, moderated by luxury journalist and author Richa Goyal Sikri, Dr. Balakrishnan will trace that remarkable history, separating enduring legend from documented record. She will demonstrate why India’s ancient diamonds remain the ultimate benchmark of provenance and prestige, and why the story of these stones continues to shape our understanding of rarity, value, and desire. “Diamonds become historic not because they shine, but because they carry the weight of time, place, power, and memory, ” Balakrishnan said.
Drawing on ancient texts, travelogues, histories, and celebrated stones, this session will reveal how diamonds acquire meaning beyond beauty – when nature, history, and human imagination converge. Was the Orlov diamond actually stolen from a temple? And Golconda, what did it mean then? And what does it mean now?
Mughal Mirror Diamond Necklace, Diamonds India, Golconda, early 17th century (approx. 96 carats) / Emerald drops are a later addition. (Private collection)
Richa Goyal emphasized that to understand our present and secure our future, we must go back in time to learn from our human history. “The tendency is to focus on the colonial period because of the overwhelming visual grandeur of European royalty or the 20th century, and the jewels that remain as their ambassadors in museums and vintage jewelry collections. I believe that to gain a deeper understanding of human desires as they relate to precious stones, we need to delve deeper and study pre-colonial history and the origins of global trade. This is what led me to curate this session with Dr. Usha Balakrishnan, one of the foremost jewelry historians of our time.”
Anklets (paizeb) India, Deccan, 19th century, National Museum, New Delhi
All photos courtesy Dr. Balakrishnan
