natural color colour diamond encyclopedia encyclopædia naturel naturelle diamant couleur encyclopédie natural color diamond fancy color diamond color diamond encyclopedia sectionmedia stephane aisinber vivid purple pink brilliant intense pink hexagon intense pink radiant brownish pink pear shape light brown cushion chocolat brown brilliant deep reddish brown pear shape olive green emerald grayish-yellow oval deep orange brilliant brownish-yellow heart shape intense orange oval vivid yellow triangle vivid orange yellow marquise yellow cushion olive green brilliant intense yellow pear shape deep yellow triangle deep olive green marquise olive brown cushion grayish olive oval intense greenish yellow princess yellowish green bishops hat intense yellowish green radiant vivid green blue oval grey blue pear shape grey brilliant intense blue Asscher cut deep blue oval

India From Antiquity to the XVIIIth Century, India was the only producer of diamonds. Two wonderful manuscripts (considered to be lapidaries) dating from the VIth Century summarize the elements that at the time were considered essential for the value of a diamond: purity, clarity, color, brilliance, fire, hardness and above all, rareness. The color of a diamond was at the time closely associated with the caste system. The priests (Brahmins) alone were allowed to own white diamonds. Warriors and knights (the Kshatriyas) could have red diamonds (probably not real diamonds, but spinels). Yellow diamonds were attributed to the Vaishyas, i.e. the landowners and merchants. Finally the artisans and peasants - the Shudras - could acquire gray and black diamonds, if they had the means. Little information exists concerning the birth of the commercial diamond routes, but manuscripts dating from before the VIth Century refer to diamond exports to the West originating from the plains of the Ganges.