The weaking mogul rule in the Deccan region, caught the attention of Qamar-ud-din Khan, one of the administrators appointed by the moguls. The death of Aurangzeb in 1707, saw the neglect of the Deccan region. With no signs of improvement, Qamar-ud-din Khan decided to take over the area that included Hyderabad. He was smart enough to realize that, he could not completely break links with the moguls. He retained some level of contact with them, while keeping a major part of administrative control with himself.
Qamar-ud-din Khan called himself Asaf Jah 1 and marked the beginning of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. He became the first Nizam of Hyderabad in 1724 and the surrounding Deccan region. The Golconda diamond mines fell within the territory that the Nizam controlled. The mines were well known for their fine quality diamonds, some of which were fancy color diamonds – blue and on rare occasions pink.
the Nizams of Hyderabad, understanding the immense value of the Golconda diamond mines, took significant measures to protect these precious resources. The Golconda region, particularly the areas around the Krishna River and its tributaries, was famous for yielding some of the finest and most valuable diamonds in the world. Security of the diamond mines and the area near the river, was of prime focus. Asaf Jah 1 the first Nizam of Hyderabad, emphasized the need to ensure that, any diamond found in the mines or the river beds nearby, would become a part of the Nizam’s treasury.
The diamond mines and riverbeds where alluvial diamonds were found were heavily guarded. The Nizams saw the diamond trade as a source of revenue. With a keen desire to develop Hyderabad and improve, the living standard of the people in the region, the Nizams were aware of revenue needs. Golconda diamonds had a ready market, the Nizams maintained a tight grip on the diamond trade. While the best pieces were transferred to the Nizam’s treasury, a number of smaller diamonds were sold at lucrative prices.
Multiple reports detail how the security of the diamond-producing regions, was of paramount importance to the Nizams, they deployed trusted soldiers to guard the diamond mines in Golconda, riverbeds, and trade routes. This helped maintain Hyderabad’s economic strength and solidified the Nizam’s authority over one of the richest diamond-producing regions of the world.
This protection ensured that many of the legendary diamonds, such as the Koh-i-Noor, Hope Diamond, Darya-i-Noor, and others with Golconda origins, passed through the hands of Indian royalty — including the Nizams — before finding their way to global fame.
Despite their tight control over the Golconda diamond trade and the immense wealth that it brought, the Nizams of Hyderabad did not appear to maintain systematic or detailed records of the priceless diamonds that entered their royal treasury. While security and protection of the mines and diamond routes were priorities—especially under Asaf Jah I, the first Nizam—the actual documentation and cataloguing of individual diamonds remained surprisingly informal.
Many of the Nizams’ diamonds procured from the Golconda mines, were passed down through generations, worn in ceremonial jewelry, or gifted as diplomatic gestures. Repeated rumors from multiple sources, refer to two highly priced diamond turban ornaments belonging to Asaf Jah 1 the first Nizam of Hyderabad. While diamond turbans worn by the Nizams, generally had diamonds around precious stones like ruby, sapphire or emerald in the center – turban ornaments with diamonds as the center stone were not common. Asaf Jah 1 had a special liking for a turban ornament, with a blue Golconda diamond in the center and another turban ornament, with a pink diamond in the center. He would wear these diamond turban ornaments only on special occasions. Interestingly neither of these turban ornaments, made an appearance during and after the reign of Asaf Jah 2, the second Nizam of Hyderabad. The story is kept away only by rumors, the actual turban ornaments or the diamonds from those turban ornaments, have never been seen for centuries.
Over time, with successive Nizams amassing personal collections, and given the blend between state and personal wealth, it became difficult to distinguish between crown jewels and private possessions. As a result, when the princely state was integrated into independent India in 1948, there was no complete inventory of the diamond collection, and many legendary stones were either unaccounted for or later surfaced in private hands or international collections.
Golconda diamonds are regarded as more than just precious gems—they are symbols of rarity, purity, and history. When such a diamond carries a historic link to the Nizams of Hyderabad, its allure and significance are elevated even further, making it a truly exceptional treasure.