Kohinoor and Padma Cut: The Diamond That Was and the Diamond That Blooms

Ever wondered about the bejewelled origins of Kohinoor and Padma Cut Diamond? For centuries, India has been called the land of diamonds. From the fabled mines of Golconda that gave the world the Kohinoor, to today’s visionary craftsmanship that birthed the Padma Cut, India’s relationship with light, beauty, and symbolism runs deep. As glittering bookends to the story of India’s evolving artistry, one has its roots in the rich history and the other is solely the result of innovation. The Kohinoor diamond, as mentioned, was supposed to have been mined from the Kollur mines of the Golconda caves. It has passed through the hands of Mughal emperors, Persian rulers, Sikh Maharajas, and British monarchs.

The Kohinoor is considered a symbol of power, empire, and contested history due to its size, status, and brilliance. The Kohinoor Diamond stands as a testament to the gemstones that have shaped the shifting tides of dominance and destiny across centuries.

Originally, the Kohinoor diamond was believed to weigh over 180 carats before it was re-cut to its current oval shape. At a time when diamonds were valued more for their mystique than for their mathematical perfection, its early form reflected the natural charm of hand-polished Indian craftsmanship, in contrast to today’s precision cuts. The Padma Cut is a reminder of the revival of Indian design sensibility in today’s world. Inspired by the Padma, or lotus flower, India’s national symbol of purity, beauty and national awakening.

The Padma-cut diamond is a remarkable result of a modern diamond design philosophy. Each diamond is shaped with meticulously aligned facets that radiate from the centre, mimicking the unfolding petals of a lotus in bloom. The result is a uniquely soft, luminous brilliance, distinct from the sharp sparkle of round or princess cuts.

A Diamond With Many Thrones: The Kohinoor Diamond

The Kohinoor diamond, which comes from India, is the diamond that has traveled the most across countries, continents, and empires. The Kohinoor diamond’s journey can be read like an epic saga, spanning centuries of power and conquest. From the glittering courts of the Mughal emperors, where it once shone in the Peacock Throne, to the treasuries of Persian and Afghan rulers, it has witnessed the shifting tides of empire.

At last, it came into the possession of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Lion of Punjab, symbolising Sikh pride and sovereignty. Eventually, through the annexation of Punjab, it found its way into the British Crown Jewels, where it now rests, set in the crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. King Charles the Third wore it after her. Kohinoor is one of only a few diamonds in history to have traversed so many borders, thrones, and dynasties. The rulers saw it as evidence of divine authority and right.

Inspired By the Sanskrit Lores and Ancient Ideals, The Padma Cut Diamond

The Padma cut is an inspiration drawn from our national flower, the lotus, a symbol that has long been the muse of nature to artists, poets, and musicians alike. Loved by people across faiths and generations, the lotus finds its place in Mughal miniature paintings and is revered in the Vedas, where sages offered it to the divine in sacred rituals.

Pureliness, renewal, and grace are deeply ingrained values in the cultural and spiritual fabric of India, and this enduring flower, rising pristine from still waters, exemplifies these ideals. The Padma Cut diamond is a contemporary marvel that demonstrates devotion as well as design mastery. Modern craftsmen have translated this forever symbolism into gemstone form. Like a lotus flower in bloom, each facet unfolds, emitting a gentle, harmonious light that is both peaceful and powerful.

Reborn Through the Ages: The Kohinoor Diamond

The Kohinoor didn’t always have the sophisticated oval shape it does today. In its earliest form, the Kohinoor diamond was an irregular, flat, rose-cut stone weighing close to 793 carats, typical of the traditional Indian style of polishing, which focused on preserving size and surface lustre rather than achieving optical symmetry. It had a soft, diffused glow, not as fiery as today’s cuts, but still captivating in its own right. Following the British annexation of Punjab in 1849, the diamond was displayed at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. To the disappointment of many visitors, the Kohinoor’s brilliance seemed muted under England’s dim skies. Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, believed its full potential was hidden beneath the ancient cut. Determined to enhance its sparkle, he entrusted the diamond to Voorsanger & Coster of Amsterdam, one of the era’s most skilled diamond-cutting firms.

After 38 days of meticulous recutting, the Kohinoor emerged in a new form, a dazzling oval brilliant cut weighing 105.6 carats. Although it lost more than half its original weight, the transformation revealed a sharper, more radiant fire within. A gemstone that has been forever shaped by the hands of time, art, and empire, the Kohinoor’s recut brilliance continues to arouse admiration and debate today. Each Padma Cut Diamond Is a Little Different The fact that no two Padma Cut diamonds are ever the same is one of their most captivating characteristics. Unlike traditional cuts, which follow precise mathematical proportions to achieve uniform brilliance, the Padma Cut draws from natural symmetry inspired by the organic geometry of a blooming lotus.

The diamond cutter is able to respond to the raw gem’s natural shape, inclusions, and inner light because each padma cut diamond is individually handcrafted with delicate variations in its facet arrangement. This process ensures that every Padma Cut diamond carries its own character, much like how no two lotus flowers ever bloom in the same way.

The result is a diamond that feels deeply personal, one that glows differently under changing light, revealing new dimensions of sparkle with every movement. It’s a subtle celebration of individuality, reminding us that true beauty lies not in perfection, but in the uniqueness that sets each creation apart.

Eternal Facets of Brilliance From India: Kohinoor and Padma Cut Diamond

India is a land of diamonds, and both have given birth to the everlasting shimmering Kohinoor and the multi-faceted Padma Cut diamond, two creations that embody the nation’s relationship with light and beauty throughout history. The Kohinoor stands as a symbol of India’s royal past, carrying within its facets stories of empires, power, and prestige.
The Padma Cut, meanwhile, reflects the country’s modern spirit rooted in heritage yet reborn through innovation and artistry. One glows with the weight of history, the other blooms with the promise of renewal. Together, they convey the essence of India’s glittering journey, in which each element tells a tale of tradition, craftsmanship, and ineffable grace.