"Angels are like diamonds. They can't be made, you have to find them. Each one is unique."

• Jaclyn Smith, American actress.

Ever since the first diamond was discovered in the alluvial plains of southern India in the 9th century BC, the dazzling gemstone has captured Man's imagination and given rise to countless legends. India, for long the only source of diamonds, lost its preeminent position when its reserves depleted and diamonds were discovered in Brazil in 1725. 150 years later, South Africa became the center of diamond extraction and has remained so since, although Russia comes pretty close. This article tries to explore the stories behind five of the most famous diamonds in history.

The Kohinoor

Everybody has heard of the Kohinoor, which literally means "Mountain of Light". It has passed through the hands of Hindu, Mughal, Persian, Afghan, Sikh and British rulers, all of whom had fought bitterly for the stone. Today, it forms a priceless part of the British Crown Jewels, synonymous of the exploitation of India by the British rulers for over 290 years. The diamond, a 105-carat transparent stone, had been estimated by the Mughal Emperor Babur to be worth enough to feed the entire world's population for two days. It is believed that the Kohinoor carries a curse whereby all male owners are dispossessed. Even the British seem wary of this and hence, only Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth have adorned the gem as sovereigns. Since Queen Victoria the diamond has always gone to the wife of the male heir to the throne.

The Hope Diamond

This 45.52-carat deep-blue diamond is famous for the curse associated with it, and may share the same Indian origin as the Kohinoor. French traveler Tavernier acquired (or stole) a blue diamond from India in the 17th century and sold it to the French royal family. This diamond, called the Tavernier Blue, was recut by Louis IV but disappeared during the French Revolution. It reappeared 20 years later in England and was acquired by King George IV, from where it was allegedly stolen by his mistress. The stone reached the gem collection of Henry Philip Hope, of the prominent Anglo-Dutch banking family, from where it gets its name. After passing through the hands of different family members and jewellers, it finally came into New York diamond merchant Harry Winston's possession, who donated it to the Smithsonian. The Hope Diamond has been blamed for several misfortunes that have befallen previous owners such as royals Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and Abdul Hamid, jewelers Jacques Colot and Simon Frankel, etc.

The Jacob Diamond

The Jacob Diamond, a 184.5-carat colorless gem, was also mined in India like the Kohinoor and the Hope Diamond. However, unlike them, it has a violence-free history, changing hands only twice in its existence. When it was sent to Europe for cutting, it was put up for sale in 1891 by Alexander Malcon Jacob; hence the name. It was offered for sale to the reigning Nizam of Hyderabad Mahbub Ali Khan, who didn't show much interest but put down a deposit. This money was lost and the jewelers taken to court, where they were forced to sell at a very low price. The Nizam didn't much care for the stone and kept it in the toe of his shoe, from where it was discovered by his surprised son after the ruler's death. The heir and last Nizam used the Jacob Diamond as a paperweight before he realized its true worth. The stone was acquired by the Indian Government after Independence.

The Cullinan Diamond

The Cullinan diamond, mined in South Africa, is the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever found, at 3,106.75 carats. The stone was bought by the Transvaal government and presented to King Edward VII on his birthday. It was later broken up into nine gems, the First Star of Africa, the Lesser Star of Africa, and seven smaller pieces. They form part of the British Crown Jewels.

The Centenary Diamond

This 273.85-carat stone from South Africa is the world's largest colorless (grade D), flawless diamond. The original rough was 599 carats and was presented on May 11, 1988 in the Centennial Celebration of the De Beers Consolidated Mines. As then-chairman Julian Oglivie Thompson said, "We have recovered at the Premier Mine a diamond of 599 carats (120 g) which is perfect in color - indeed it is one of the largest top-color diamonds ever found. Naturally it will be called the Centenary Diamond." Its current ownership is not public.