a marriage of centuries"
~ A kiss on the hand may be quite Continental, but diamonds are a girl's best friend. ~
Although Marilyn Monroe sang about them in 1953, diamonds are thought to have first been recognised and treasured as gemstones and religious icons in ancient India (where they were mined too). The usage of diamonds in engraving tools also dates back to early human history. The name diamond is derived from the ancient Greek "adámas," meaning "unbreakable, untamed."
In 1475, Lodewyk (Louis) van Berquem, a Flemish stone-polisher from Bruges, Belgium, introduced the concept of absolute symmetry in the placement of facets on the stone. The 17th-century French jeweller, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (1605-1689, also with Belgian roots), was one of the early pioneers of the diamond trade with India. In his book "The Six Voyages of Jean-Baptist Tavernier" he documented many historically significant diamond cuts.
The popularity of diamonds has risen since the 19th century because of increased supply, improved cutting and polishing techniques, and growth in the world economy. And in our days, we at Adin, based in Antwerp - Belgium, are offering the splendours of craftsmanship from diamond polishers and goldsmiths of many centuries. This reflects itself in the diamond jewellery we have to offer from the 17th century onwards.
See all Adin's diamond earrings
See all Adin's diamond pendants
See all Adin's diamond brooches
See all Adin's diamond jewelry