Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s3.t1.4

v2.c43.s3.t1.4

Good diamonds were supposed to be *ujjala* or bright, *adoṣa* flawless, *amala vāritara* free from impurities and transparent like water. Rain-bow like colour, *ambudendradhanuḥ* was a desirable property (*RRS*, 4.27). Ibn al-Afkānī, an Arab gemmologist, commented: “Indians prefer white and yellow diamonds because of the red rays, that emanate from them when viewed against the sun, and the spectrum resembling the rainbow”. (quoted by Sarma, 1984:48)