History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c39.s4.4

v1.c39.s4.4

The south Indian empires (the Colas, Ceras etc.) engaged in profitable trade on precious stones with the Romans. Pearl, sapphire, carnelian, ruby, beryl were some of the gems processed and exported by India; coral, emerald etc. used to be imported. Naturally gemmology was developed as a subject in several scholarly texts of this era and the art of jewellery promoted by a widespread and vigorous trade.