Diamond stamps are a love-letter to mother nature’s most unique wonders.
Reena Ahluwalia authored an in depth article on Diamond Postage Stamps for the Natural Diamond Council. The article was published on July 23, 2021. Please follow link to read the full article.
Reena Ahluwalia holding “Antverpia 2010”, a special edition Belgian postage stamp featuring her award winning diamond necklace. Shown as well are the famous Cullinan diamond, Shah diamond, Cullinan diamond on Sovereign’s Sceptre , and a postage stamp from Botswana.
Coveted and fabulous, here’s a quick look at the world of diamond postage stamps.
As head of the Commonwealth and Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II's image has appeared on numerous diamond postage stamps over the years. In many she is seen wearing the famous Diamond Diadem, set with 1,333 diamonds, as well as other famous Crown Jewels. Image credits: Canada Post - 2012, Australia Post - 2016, Australia Post - 1953, Crown Jewels - Royal Mail - 2011, Royal Mail - 2019, Royal Mail - 2016, Royal Mail -1992. Images and research by Reena Ahluwalia.
Guernsey Post celebrated the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022 by releasing six limited edition stamps. Each stamp shows the Queen wearing Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee necklace, which is believed to be one of her favourite pieces of jewellery. Credit: Guernsey Post
Platinum Jubilee: Stamps were issued by Royal Mail to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign. The Queen is shown wearing her favorite jewels - set in diamonds, pearls and gemstones. Credit: Royal Mail , 2022.
The first! Considered a British cultural icon, On May 1, 1840, Great Britain issued the world’s first adhesive paper postage stamp - the Penny Black. The postage stamp featured the profile of Queen Victoria wearing a diamond diadem. It revolutionized postal services globally. Before 1839, 76 million letters were sent in the United Kingdom. Following Penny Black, by the 1850s the number jumped to nearly 350 million and the number kept growing. This success led other countries to soon adopt postage stamps. Image credit: The Royal Mail, Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum.
Did you know? Diamonds adorn postage stamps in more than 40 countries across the world often deeply entwined with the cultural fabric of the country and people.
Famous Diamonds on Postage Stamps
The world’s most famous and coveted diamonds are recorded for posterity on postage stamps.
Here are some of my favourite diamond postage stamps.
Top Left to Right: (1 & 3)The famous Cullinan I and Cullinan II diamonds, postage stamps issued in 1980 by South Africa. Image: South African Post. (2) The Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross that holds Cullinan I, or the Star of Africa, weighing 530.2 carats. Image: The Royal Mail. (4 & 7) The fabulous 2019 South African stamps features some of the most celebrated diamonds, such as the Eureka, the Star of South Africa, the De Beers, the Excelsior, the Jubilee, the Cullinan, the Golden Jubilee, the Centenary, the Heart of Eternity, the Blue Moon of Josephine, the Millennium Star and the Premier Rose diamond. Image: The South African Post. (5) The 88.7 carat, table cut Shah diamond with engraved inscriptions. This Soviet Postage stamp was issued in 1971. Image: The Diamond Fund of the Russian Federation. (6) The famous Orlov diamond on the Russian Imperial scepter. Issued 2017. Both the Shah and Orlov diamonds originated from the fabled Golconda region in India. Image: Russian Post. Research by Reena Ahluwalia.
The famous Cullinan I and Cullinan II diamonds, postage stamps issued in 1980 by South Africa. Image: South African Post.
The Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross that holds Cullinan I, or the Star of Africa, weighing 530.2 carats. Image: The Royal Mail.
Top: The 88.7 carat, table cut Shah diamond with engraved inscriptions. This Soviet Postage stamp was issued in 1971. Image: The Diamond Fund of the Russian Federation. Bottom: The famous Orlov diamond on the Russian Imperial scepter. Issued 2017. Both the Shah and Orlov diamonds originated from the fabled Golconda region in India. Image: Russian Post.
Famous Disney characters in India on diamond postage stamps.
Beloved Disney characters in India. These fabulous postage stamps issued in 1989 show famous diamonds like the Koh-i-Noor, the Briolette of India, The Orlov and the Regent diamonds. Image: St. Vincent and the Grenadines Postal Corporation.
“Antverpia 2010” Belgian postage stamp
With only a handful of postage stamps in the world featuring diamonds, and even rarer featuring a diamond jewelry piece and a living jewelry artist’s work; “Antverpia 2010” postage stamp is every diamond stamp collectors dream. I am honored that my work is featured on this coveted postage stamp!
Award-winning, 101-carat ‘Bel Canto’ diamond necklace by jewelry designer Reena Ahluwalia on “Antverpia 2010”, a special edition Belgian postage stamp. Image: Reena Ahluwalia and Thierry Van Dort, The Belgian Post / B-Post.
On April 15, 2010, a special edition diamond stamp was issued by the Belgian Post. A tribute to the 101-carat Bel Canto diamond necklace that I had designed, this stamp was named Antverpia 2010. The HRD Design Awards winning necklace was immortalized as a celebration of the historical significance of diamonds in Antwerp and the crucial role Antwerp plays in the world of diamonds.
Bel Canto means ‘Beautiful Singing’. My necklace is inspired by the Opera. For me music is all about feelings and emotions. In my design I have attempted to recreate melody, the high and low notes sung by legendary Soprano Maria Callas. I believe that’s what diamonds do so effortlessly, they evoke emotions, transform ideas and express the sublime.
The diamond necklace featured on this stamp was designed by me in collaboration with Diarough N.V, one of the world’s most influential diamond companies based in Antwerp.
How it was made! Reena’s hand drawn design blueprints and the ‘Bel Canto’ diamond necklace during fabrication. Images: Reena Ahluwalia and Thierry Van Dort.
Diamond on World Postage Stamps
Postage stamps preserve history, circulate ideas and connect people and geographies. Just like diamonds have over the ages.
World Postage stamps including from countries that are key players in the world of diamonds. Image credits: Israel Post, La Poste - The French Postal Service, Salpost, Canada Post, Deutsche Post, B-post, Indian Postal Service, the Royal Mail.
World Postage stamps including from countries that are key players in the world of diamonds. Image credits: Israel Post, La Poste - The French Postal Service, The B-post, Indian Postal Service, Canada Post, Deutsche Post, the Royal Mail, Salpost, BotswanaPost, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Postal Corporation.
A Brief History of Postage Stamps
Every stamp tells a story and is intrinsically connected to the identity and history of the issuing nations. Much before adhesive paper stamps became the norm, letters were hand-stamped by ink. First used in 1661 at the London General Post Office, inked postmarks called 'Bishop mark' were hand-stamped on letters. Postmarks were invented by Henry Bishop.
In 1837, Sir Rowland Hill invented the adhesive postage stamps. It was soon followed by the 'Penny Black', the world's first adhesive paper postage stamp used in a public postal system and now considered a British cultural icon. On May 6, 1840, the British Penny Black stamp was released and featured the profile of Queen Victoria. Before 1839, 76 million letters were sent in the United Kingdom. Following Penny Black, by the 1850s the number jumped to nearly 350 million and the number kept growing. This success led other countries to soon adopt postage stamps.
Real diamond affixed on The Jersey Post Office stamp to mark the occasion of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The souvenir sheet of limited edition stamps had two stamps on it. One of Queen Elizabeth II and the other of the late monarch - her father King George VI who preceded her. The diamond diadem crown that is worn by the Queen has a 1.25 mm diamond affixed onto it on each of the sheets. Only 600 stamps were produced. Image credit: Blog, Commonwealthstampsopinion.
Reena Ahluwalia authored an in depth article on Diamond Postage Stamps for the Natural Diamond Council. The article was published on July 23, 2021. Please follow link to read the full article.
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In the past I have authored posts on, Bejeweled Maharaja & Maharani of Mysore, Koh-i-Noor Diamond, Diamonds on World Postage Stamps, Top Ten - Largest Diamonds Discovered In The World, Splendors of Mughal India, The Magnificent Maharajas Of India, Mystery & History Of Marquise Diamond Cut, Ór - Ireland's Gold, The Legendary Cullinan Diamond, Bejeweled Persia - Historic Jewelry From The Qajar Dynasty, Famous Heart-Shaped Diamonds, Type II Diamonds, Green Diamonds, Red Diamonds and more. Over years, I have spent countless hours in self-driven studies on diamond, jewelry history and research. I wrote these blogs for a simple reason - to share my collected knowledge with all who are interested, so that more can benefit from it. Take a look and enjoy! -- Reena