ByThe Golconda diamond mines of India have produced some of the most historic and legendary diamonds in the world. Located in present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the Golconda region (especially the Kollur Mine near the River Krishna) was the world’s earliest and most famous source of diamonds, long before discoveries in Africa, Brazil, or Russia.
From the 16th to the early 18th century, these mines supplied diamonds that adorned royal crowns, state treasures, and iconic jewelry across the world. The diamonds from Golconda became renowned for their exceptional purity, transparency, and brilliance — many being Type IIa or Type IIb stones, meaning they contained almost no nitrogen or other impurities. This gave them a water-like “limpid” look and, in the case of blue stones, a rare and natural hue due to trace boron.
A few celebrated diamonds mined from Golconda – The Koh-i-Noor Diamond, The Hope Diamond, The Regent Diamond, The Dresden Green Diamond, The Seraphim Blue Diamond, The Idol’s Eye Diamond and the Golconda Blue Diamond.
The last 3 Golconda diamonds mentioned above have two things in common. The Seraphim Blue Diamond, The Idol’s Eye Diamond and the Golconda Blue Diamond are all blue diamonds, originating from the famed Golconda mines. Another interesting thing about these three diamonds is that, they have all drawn intense attention in recent times.
THE IDOL’S EYE DIAMOND
The Idol’s Eye is a 70.21-carat blue diamond, said to have originated from the Golconda region (specifically the Kollur mine) in In India. It has an illustrious history and was owned by the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II in the late 19th/early 20th century, later purchased by American jeweller Harry Winston and American socialite May Bonfils Stanton, and changed hands thereafter.
The first authenticated sale of the Idol’s Eye Diamond was at Christie’s, London on 14 July 1865. The diamond was acquired by Harry Winston after World War II, this was around 1946. The blue Golconda diamond changed hands the next year. Closer to our times, the Idol’s Eye Diamond was acquired by Saud bin Muhammed Al Thani (Qatar) in 2004.
THE SERAPHIM BLUE DIAMOND
A fine blue diamond from the Golconda region, this 6 to 8 carat diamond was once worn by the first Nizam of Hyderabad in a high value turban ornament. Asaf Jah I took over as the first Nizam of Hyderabad in the year 1724.
Multiple reports narrate that the Seraphim Blue Diamond, was handed over to the French by Asaf Jah II the second Nizam of Hyderabad. The most believed mention is that, the Nizam parted with the blue diamond in return for, military protection from the French.
After remaining elusive for centuries, reports around 2024 to 2025 revealed the sighting of the Seraphim Blue Diamond, in a Russian collection. The high interest levels that this information raised, among diamond collectors and experts is understandable. This historic diamond has never been the subject of an auction or a public sale.
THE GOLCONDA BLUE DIAMOND
The blue diamond with a Golconda origin, weighs 23.24 carats and is described as a “Fancy Vivid Blue”. Its recorded provenance includes Indian royalty – it was once in the collection of Yeshwant Rao Holkar II (Maharaja of Indore) and his wife. The Golconda Blue Diamond was set in jewellery by French houses (Chaumet, Mauboussin) before being acquired by an American jeweller.
The Golconda diamond gained public attention in 2025 when reputed auction house Christie’s announced that the diamond would be offered at their Geneva “Magnificent Jewels” sale. The Golconda Blue Diamond, will go down in history as one of the major auction cancellations! This as Christie’s announced an auction cancellation, a couple of weeks before the highly awaited auction was expected to take place.
SUMMARY NOTES
The chances of a Golconda diamond appearing at auction today are extremely slim, yet the fascination and anticipation surrounding them remain strong among collectors, gem connoisseurs, and premier auction houses such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s.
The reason is simple — Golconda diamonds are irreplaceable relics of gem history. The original mines in India’s Deccan plateau, especially the Kollur and Paritala mines, were exhausted by the early 18th century. Since then, no new Golconda diamonds have been mined. Every known stone from this origin now rests in private collections, royal treasuries, or museums, making their reappearance a rare global event.
Despite the long odds, auction houses maintain hope because even a single Golconda diamond can transform an auction into a landmark occasion. When such a stone surfaces, its combination of history, purity, and provenance often results in record-breaking bids. For collectors, the opportunity to own a verified Golconda diamond represents the pinnacle of gemstone collecting — a fusion of geological rarity and royal legacy.
So while the mines have long fallen silent, the legend of Golconda lives on — kept alive by the enduring hope that another of its miraculous diamonds might, one day, reappear under the hammer at Christie’s or Sotheby’s.
