*By Historical News Team | Sanskrit Saga*
**GOLCONDA, 1660s** — In an era before South African or Brazilian diamond fields were discovered, India’s legendary Kollur mine stands as the undisputed global center of the diamond trade, producing stones of such extraordinary size and quality that merchants travel thousands of miles to access its treasures.
“The Kollur mine, which some call Gani-Coulour, is the most productive diamond source in the world today,” reports Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a French gem merchant who has made six journeys to India over the past three decades. “It is situated in the territory controlled by the King of Golconda, near a large village on the banks of the Krishna river.”
## Record-Breaking Discoveries Fuel Global Luxury Market
According to Tavernier, who has unprecedented access to the mine operations, Kollur regularly produces exceptional stones that dwarf those found elsewhere in the world.
“At this mine they find many diamonds of considerable size, from ten to forty carats and even more,” Tavernier noted in his latest market report. His most astonishing revelation concerns a recently discovered stone of almost mythical proportions.
“Among the recent discoveries is that great diamond which weighed 900 carats before being cut,” Tavernier confirmed. “This exceptional stone was presented by Mir Jumla to Emperor Aurangzeb as a tribute.”
Industry experts note that a diamond of this size—nearly half a pound in weight—would be valued at a sum equivalent to the annual revenue of a small kingdom. The stone’s journey from mine to Mughal court exemplifies how these precious gems serve both economic and political functions in the complex power dynamics of the subcontinent.
## Inside the World’s Premier Diamond Source
The Kollur operation employs thousands of workers who labor under challenging conditions to extract these precious stones from alluvial deposits along the Krishna River.
“The extraction process is remarkably labor-intensive,” explains Tavernier, who has documented the mining techniques in detail. “Workers dig through layers of sand and earth, then carefully sift through the material looking for the telltale gleam of a diamond.”
Mine supervisors report that the most skilled workers can identify a potential diamond by its distinctive luster even before it’s cleaned. These specialists command premium wages in a labor market where experience and expertise are highly valued.
Local officials confirm that security measures at the mine are extraordinarily strict. All workers are thoroughly searched at the end of each shift, with severe penalties for anyone attempting to conceal discoveries. Despite these precautions, rumors persist of diamonds occasionally being smuggled out through elaborate schemes.
## Global Supply Chain Connects India to European Courts
The journey of these diamonds from Indian mines to European royal courts represents one of the world’s most sophisticated luxury supply chains. Merchants like Tavernier serve as crucial intermediaries, purchasing stones directly from authorized dealers in India and transporting them along dangerous routes back to Europe.
“The risks are considerable,” acknowledges Tavernier, who travels with armed guards when carrying valuable cargo. “But so are the potential profits.”
Market analysts note that a single successful journey carrying premium Indian diamonds can generate returns sufficient to fund a merchant’s retirement. This economic reality has attracted traders from across Europe and the Middle East to the Golconda region, creating a truly international marketplace.
## Economic Impact Extends Beyond Luxury Trade
The diamond industry’s influence extends far beyond luxury goods, according to regional economic officials. Revenue from mining operations and export taxes funds significant portions of the Golconda kingdom’s treasury, enabling ambitious building projects and military campaigns.
The industry also supports an extensive ecosystem of secondary businesses—from food vendors who feed the miners to specialized craftsmen who cut and polish rough stones before they enter international markets.
“An entire city’s economy can revolve around a productive mine,” notes Tavernier. “When a new diamond vein is discovered, you see immediate growth in everything from housing construction to textile sales as wealth circulates through the community.”
## Future Outlook Remains Bright Despite Political Uncertainties
Despite recent political tensions between the Golconda Sultanate and the expanding Mughal Empire, industry insiders remain optimistic about the diamond trade’s future. The global appetite for these precious stones continues to grow, with new markets emerging in wealthy trading centers from Venice to Constantinople.
Tavernier predicts that India will maintain its dominance of the global diamond market for the foreseeable future: “No other known source can match the quality and quantity of stones produced in these mines.”
As European royalty and nobility increasingly view diamond ownership as essential to demonstrating their status, demand shows no signs of weakening. This ensures that the remarkable stones emerging from the banks of the Krishna River will continue their journey across continents, connecting the mines of Golconda to the crowns and treasuries of the world’s most powerful rulers.
*This article is part of Sanskrit Saga’s “Historical News” series, bringing authentic accounts of daily life in pre-British India to modern readers.*
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