Traill's Crest Loft

When it comes to history, diamonds have a very long and fascinating record as one of the most intriguing gemstones on the planet. You may be familiar with the term, 'Diamonds are Forever', made popular by the De Beers advertising campaigns and for good reason. Forged billions of years ago, long before dinosaurs roamed the planet, they have survived the forces of nature to reach us. They have been used throughout the ages as bearers of mystic powers and incredible beauty. Through the centuries they have been revered and admired by many civilisations.

More recently, Australia has become a contender when it comes to the production and mining of exquisite gem quality diamonds. Other countries for diamond mining include Africa, Canada, Russia, and South America in addition to those mined in Australia.

The Hardness of Diamond: Diamond's supreme hardness was recognized: "The gems and the metals that exist on earth are all scratched by the diamond: the diamond is not (scratched) by them. A noble substance scratches that which is noble and that which is not; the diamond scratches even the ruby. The diamond scratches all and is not scratched by any."

There was a powerful king of the Danavas named Bala, endowed with great strength and who proved his valor by conquering the three worlds. In more than one battle, Divaspati was vanquished by him, and the wife of Heros, Sachi, was not able to raise her head with pride. The gods could not defeat this indomitable warrior in open combat; so they requested him, in the guise of a favor, to become the victim of their sacrificial ritual (yagna).

The powerful Bala exceeded the highest serenity of great souls: in the pride of his courage he replied "Yes" to the gods. firm in his resolve and asking for nothing in the face of the agony that extinguished his life-giving breath, he was tied to a stake by thirteen strings, like an animal; he was bound by his own word.