The word “diamond” comes from the Greek adamas, meaning “unconquerable”- an appropriate name for the hardest material occurring in nature. Until diamond was discovered in Brazil in 1725, its only source was India, where diamonds were already highly esteemed as talismans by the year 800 B.C. It is believed that diamonds found their way to Europe through the Persian invasion of India. By the 15th century, European women of royalty were wearing diamonds.

In India, cutting initially involved merely removing just the flawed portions of the rough stones, keeping the weight loss of the rough to a minimum. The use of diamond powder led to the development of new polishing techniques that became the origins of modern-day polishing. In the mid-17th century, following the rose cut and other improvements, the Mazarin cut was developed. This was the forerunner of the modern brilliant cut. Although the modern brilliant cut may result in a loss of 50 percent or more from the rough, it is crucial in bringing out the spectacular brilliance of a diamond.

The beauty of the diamond in the photograph to the next is the result of an optimum balance of rainbow-colored dispersion, scintillation, and strong brilliance. Under sunlight or bright lighting, a diamond emits the red, yellow, green, and blue dispersion seen in a prism. As the diamond is moved, the mosaic patterns created by the cut sparkle with breathtaking scintillation. The balance of dispersion, brilliance, and scintillation changes subtly depending on the angles chosen by the cutter. Increasing the colorful dispersion sacrifices brilliance, and maximizing both is not possible. Each rough diamond, created by the powers of nature with its own individual character, is given yet another dimension of individuality through human technology.