Ring "Crystal-clear"
Ring "Crystal-clear"
Colour: crystal clear.
Shape: Oval, slightly curved stone in a smooth, polished silver setting, wide, tapered ring.
Material: faceted rock crystal (stone 12x18mm, 6mm high), shiny polished sterling silver.
Size: 59/60.
Country: India.
The story behind it:
India is the land of gemstones and jewelers.
In fact, the subcontinent was the world's only supplier of gemstones for over 2000 years. The country was rich in gemstone deposits and the "cornflower blue" sapphires from Kashmir and the "pigeon blood red" rubies from Burma brought it some fame. The south of the country is known for its sapphires, moonstones, iolites and rubies.
India was also the only place where diamonds were found until the 18th century. So it is not surprising that many of the famous diamonds such as the Blue Hope Diamond, Dresden Green Diamond , Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond , Black Orlov or Koh-i-Noor are of Indian origin.
While the precious stones were cut and processed into gemstones at an early stage, no one touched the diamonds. This was partly because there was nothing available with which to work the hardest material in the world. Secondly, a rough diamond was so much more valuable than the other stones that (complex) processing would have hardly added any value.
Today the situation is different. India's importance as a supplier of precious stones is declining, the mines are partially exhausted, but at the same time a gigantic market for diamond cutting has developed, especially in Surat ( Gujarat ). Here the skills of Indian jewelers and cutters, "honed" over centuries, have culminated in a special business that is unique in the world. Over 90 percent of all rough diamonds traded today are brought to India, cut in Surat and then exported again. The jewelry and gemstone industry has thus once again become an important engine for the Indian economy.
Indian jewelry making is highly specialized, with artisans often working from generation to generation in family businesses. Different techniques require specific skills, such as stone cutting, goldsmithing, or inlaying gemstones in metal. The art is often very detailed and requires precision and patience.