Famous Diamonds
Diamonds have the chance to be famous. Indeed, since their discovery 4,000 years ago, some have become popular. Most of the time, these diamants doivent leur popularité grâce à leur taille, but also their color or even their origin. Famous diamonds fascinate with their beauty and rarity. They have been discovered all over the world. They all have a unique and exciting story. Today, you can see them in major world museums.
Who says famous, necessarily means famous character. These diamonds have been worn by important personalities who have marked history. We can then wonder and imagine the journeys and mysteries that lie behind these stones. And if now, we entered into the enigmas of these famous diamonds?
WHAT ARE THE FAMOUS DIAMONDS?
CULLINAN DIAMOND
This diamond is the most famous diamond in South Africa and is arguably the most well-known diamond in the world. Its weight is impressive at 3,160 carats. (Fun fact: this diamond is cut, but when it was discovered in its raw form it became the largest diamond ever found in the world)
Why is the diamond named this way?
Simply because the mine from which it was extracted belonged to Thomas Cullinan, who then named it after himself. The Cullinan was discovered in 1905 in the Premier Mine (South Africa).
The South African government gifted the stone to Edward VII, the King of England, to properly celebrate his 66th birthday. Who wouldn't love to have a diamond of nearly 3,000 carats for their birthday? But this gift was also a token of gratitude to the king for the recently acquired autonomy of the African country.
The cutting was entrusted to Joseph Asscher. This man was a renowned cutter, calling on Joseph Asscher was the assurance of an optimal result. The lapidary proceeded step by step, he first trained extensively on copies before touching the diamond.
Then, 3 years after the discovery of the Cullinan, Joseph Asscher decided to cleave the stone into three parts. These three parts were entrusted to Henri Koe, a diamond dealer.
This diamond dealer made 9 huge diamonds with the three parts of the Cullinan. No, you're not dreaming, there are 9 Cullinans. The two most famous are:
- The Great Star of Africa or Cullinan 1: this stone is cut in the shape of a pear. Elle weighs 530.20 carats and has 74 facets. This diamond is of incomparable color and purity. Given its size, one could expect a significant number of inclusions (internal characteristics of the stone) but the opposite happened.
- The Cullinan 2: cut in a cushion shape with 66 facets, this stone is mounted on the crown of England. The second Cullinan weighs 317.40 carats. They are both displayed in the country of royalty par excellence: in England at the Tower of London with the other crown jewels.
HOPE DIAMOND
The diamond of hope or the cursed diamond?
This diamond is known for its blue color, but especially for its chilling legend. This diamond weighs 44.52 carats. It was discovered in India in the Kollur deposit.
The Hope diamond was brought to France by Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a precious stone merchant. He bought it in 1668, to sell it to Louis XIV later. The king had it cut by Piteau, the rough diamond of 112.5 carats went to 67.5 carats.
Of course, a name was needed for this royal diamond, so it was simply named "Blue Diamond of the Crown". The diamond was stolen during the revolution in 1792. The thieves left France and had the idea to recut the stone in order to sell it better and not to be spotted. The trace of Hope is lost for nearly 20 years.
In 1830, the diamond was sold to a London banker, Henry Philip Hope, hence the famous yet contradictory name... The blue diamond remained in this family for many years. Legend has it that the heirs of the stone died suddenly...
It was later owned by Pierre Cartier (Fun fact: son of the famous jeweler from Place Vendôme). Then it changed hands again, the billionaire Ed. B. MacLean took over. All things considered, it was Mr. Winston who purchased it in the 50s.
This man gifted the Hope diamond to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, where it can be admired.
WHAT IS THE LEGEND OF THE CURSED DIAMOND?
It is said that the Hope Diamond carries a curse. In fact, this legend is due to the fact that several of its owners have died tragically... It is said that the history of this stone is linked to the curse of the three D's which apparently would be transmitted during auctions. The three D's are: Death, Debt, Divorce. The Hope Diamond itself, would be the cause of death and debt.
EUREKA DIAMOND
This diamond also comes from South Africa. It is cushion-shaped and weighs 10.73 carats. Compared to the first two diamonds, it is not its size, color, or quality that has given it such popularity. It is actually thanks to its discovery.
The Eureka diamond is the very first diamond discovered in South Africa and it was found by a child: Erasmus Jacobs. The child found a stone more beautiful than the others on the banks of the Orange River. Of course, he didn't know he had found a diamond and used it to play knucklebones.
Erasmus gave this magnificent stone to his neighbor, a farmer named Schalk Van Niekerk, who collected minerals. Intrigued and interested in this diamond, he entrusted this stone to a traveling salesman to send it to a geologist, G. Atherstone. The irony is that this geologist is one of the few people who knew about diamonds in this region.
This geologist certified that it was indeed a brown/yellow diamond of 21.25 carats. Sold to Mr. Wodehouse for the sum of 1,500 pounds, the diamond was displayed at the 1889 Paris World's Fair. Later, the stone was recut to be as we know it today.
The De Beers company bought this diamond for its company, so it is not displayed in a museum.
TIFFANY DIAMOND
This intense yellow 128.51 carat diamond belongs to the New York jewelry brand: Tiffany & Co. This stone was discovered in South Africa in the Kimberley mine in 1877. Gideon Reed, director of Tiffany in Paris, bought this diamond for $18,000.
Before it was cut, this diamond weighed 287.42 carats. To cut a diamond of this magnitude, the Tiffany House and gemologist Frederic Kunz first spent a year studying the stone to know how elle was going to be cut.
The decision was made, the diamond was cut into a 90-facet cushion shape. This diamond was set on a brooch named "Bird on the Rock".
This diamond is famous for its color, its size, but also because it was exposed to the general public. Indeed, during the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's" the main actress Audrey Hepburn wears this diamond as a necklace. But another star also made it talked about, it is Lady Gaga. The singer wore it on a red carpet.
This fabulous diamond has been exhibited in several exhibitions around the world, but it is in the historic Tiffany & Co store (5th Avenue New York) that the diamond is most often displayed. So if you are in New York, don't hesitate, it's worth the detour!
DIAMOND THE REGENT
With a weight of 410 carats, this diamond discovered in the Parteal mine in South India is undoubtedly one of the most famous diamonds. Its first buyer was Thomas Pitt, governor of Madras. Then in 1717, the Duke of Orleans and Regent of France, Philippe, became its second owner. The Duke had the Diamond Le Régent cut into a brilliant cushion cut in London. This cut therefore reduced the carat of the stone to 140.50 carats. The diamond then took the name of Regent and was added to the Royal Treasury of France. (Fun fact: Marie-Antoinette often wore Le Régent as a jewel. As for Louis XV, he wore it on his crown at his coronation in 1722). This diamond has a history full of adventures. First stolen, but quickly found, then pawned by the government to be bought back for France by Bonaparte. Like Louis XV, he wore the Regent at his coronation in 1804. Today, you can see this diamond in the Apollo Gallery at the Louvre. There are many other famous diamonds such as the Golden Jubilee, the Vargas or the Hortensia. All hiding mystery, discovery and exciting history from the past.
1) The average ring size of a woman is 54.
2) The Pink Star diamond is an exceptional diamond. It is a pink oval diamond of 59.60 carats that was sold at auction for the record price of $71,200,000. (Fun fact: it is also the largest diamond that the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has certified)
3) The Golden Jubilee is the largest cut diamond in the world. It weighs 545.67 carats, its color is yellow/brown.
