A Fine Diamond Ring, Cartier, Circa 1987. Lot 648 in Jewels & Jadeite, Hong Kong.
I realized I had unearthed a diamond that encapsulates everything that makes a diamond perfect. — Graeme Thompson
Handmade by Cartier in the late 1980s, this diamond ring possesses a rare and superb quality that transcends its top color and clarity grading. It is certified as a Type IIa and documented as a ‘Golconda’ diamond by Cartier. A Golconda diamond is distinguished by a high degree of transparency as a result of the purity of its crystal, imbued with a limpid quality that is reminiscent of a drop of ice water.
The name evokes the myths surrounding an ancient mine in Eastern India, which gave birth to legendary diamonds including The Koh-i-Noor and The Regent. Revered by gem traders and collectors since the Renaissance period, Golconda was considered an exclusive source of the best diamonds in the world. Unfortunately, by the mid-18th century, the appetites of Indian maharajas and European monarchs have completely exhausted its supply, making diamonds from this region all the rarer and more desirable today.
Golconda diamonds, often said to be beyond white, are classified as Type IIa. With less than 1% of the world's diamonds certified as Type IIa, this pure diamond is as rare as it is beautiful.