All the secrets of the Sancy diamond and the fate of its owners

Due to their extraordinary rarity, amazing beauty and their own history, the world's most famous diamonds attract increased attention. They force people to visit the museums in which they are stored and make them want to own them. Diamonds made from them adorn the crowns and scepters of kings, and beautiful necklaces are displayed by the richest and most famous women in the world.

Gemstones of incredible size

It is unknown when humanity first noticed these majestic stones. In the Middle Ages, Indian Rajas considered it an honor to have gems of extraordinary beauty in their treasuries, and the real decorations of the collections were stones of outstanding size.

For a long time, no one cut the world’s famous diamonds and they were kept in their original form, attracting the attention of their owners with their natural beauty.

Subsequently, the largest diamonds began to be cut, making large diamonds from them, which sharply increased the cost of the stone itself. The most famous diamonds in the world currently exist only in the form of copies, since they were long ago split into dozens of fragments and faceted. And only in some countries, including Russia, are they a national treasure and are kept in special museums among other treasures.

Treasures of the Russian Diamond Fund

At the beginning of the 18th century, by a special decree of Peter the Great, a collection of jewelry began to form in Russia, which could only include famous diamonds and exquisite semi-precious stones. At that time, these were exclusively diamonds, which amazed the Russian tsars with their greatness and long history.

The historical stones of the Russian Diamond Fund include:

• the 196.6-carat Orlov diamond, which adorns the scepter of the Russian imperial crown;
• 88-carat “Shah”, presented by the Shah of Persia as compensation for the murder of Alexander Griboyedov;
• a flat diamond weighing 25 carats covering the portrait of Alexander the Great on a bracelet specially made in France;
• a red spinel weighing 399 carats inserted into the Great Imperial Crown;
• a green emerald weighing 136 carats brought from Colombia;
• the largest and most beautiful sapphire in the world, weighing about 260 carats;
• a giant chrysolite weighing 190 carats, which has no equal in the world.

Origin of the largest diamonds in Russia

The history of the origin of the Orlov diamond is very interesting, about which researchers are still arguing. In the early 70s of the 18th century, this stone was presented to the Russian Empress Catherine II by her favorite Grigory Orlov, who announced the acquisition of the stone in Amsterdam.

What is surprising is that nothing is known about the diamond from which the jewel is made, and it is only said that the stone was stolen from the treasury of an Indian temple.

However, about 20 years earlier, the legendary Great Mogul diamond weighing 279 carats, stolen from its last owner Nadir Shah, disappeared without a trace. By a strange coincidence, “Great Mogul” and “Orlov” have the same color and purity, which leads researchers to think about their relatedness.

You can read more about this in the article “About the famous Orlov diamond.”

No less interesting is the fate of the Shah diamond, which has three engravings on its surface indicating the names of its former owners. This stone, donated to the Russian emperor by the Persian Shah in 1829, made it possible to avoid a major war between the countries and became compensation for the death of Griboyedov.

Read more in the article “The tragedy of the Shah diamond.”

History of the Sancy Diamond

There are many versions about how the legendary jewel came to be. The author of the book “Diamond is a fragile stone” R. Valeeva reports one of the legends that are associated with its appearance. According to her, the first diamond was found in the eastern part of the Indian peninsula in 1064. The merchant who found it immediately realized that he could make good money from such a treasure. The merchant Jagattunga was able to exchange it for two large elephants, 12 camels and 80 gold. So the new owner of the stone weighing 101.4 carats became Sultan Vira Rajendra and his family.

Very soon the jewel, along with all the other treasures of the family, began to belong to Adhirajendra, who became the next Sultan. After this, the product belonged to several more famous families:

• Gulyamov dynasty.
• Qutb-ud-din.

The Sultan's treasury constantly passed from one owner to another along with the sansi, but one day the decoration disappeared. It is believed that the Grand Vizier stole it. After some time, information about it appears in connection with the Tughlaq family, when Sultan Muhammad acquired it in 1325 from a foreign merchant. Since then, India has not heard anything about this jewel. Most likely, from that moment the pebble came to Europe.

After a gap in history, when the whereabouts of the diamond were unknown, the European period of existence of this interesting piece of jewelry begins. In 1473 it became the property of Charles the Bold. Two years later, the diamond was processed by the famous polisher of the time, Ludwig Van Beurken, as a result of which the weight lost 48 carats, but gained 32 facets. Its next owner was the Portuguese king Afonso the African, who was forced to sell it. It is still unknown who the buyer of the Sansi was.

The majestic "Cullinan" and the mysterious "Great Mogul"

All of the world's most famous diamonds are made from the largest diamonds, each with its own history and name.

The real giant was the Cullinan, found in 1905 in South Africa. Its original weight was 3106.75 carats. As a result of its cutting, it was possible to obtain 105 precious stones of various sizes, and the “Big Star of Africa” (530.2 carats) was for a long time the largest diamond in the world.

The names of diamonds obtained from the Cullinan cut have serial numbers as their weight decreases.

Read more about this legendary stone in the article “The Fascinating History of the Cullinan Diamond.”

In the Middle Ages, the rulers of all countries of the world dreamed of getting the Great Mogul diamond weighing 747 carats and a large diamond made from it weighing 279 carats. As a result of a series of conspiracies, in 1747 its last owner, Nadir Shah, was killed and the stone disappeared without a trace. Scientists and researchers are still trying to discover his whereabouts, coming up with various legends and versions about his future fate.

Rare and famous diamonds

Diamond "Sancy"

- a pale yellow teardrop-shaped diamond weighing 55.23 carats (11.046 grams). One of the legendary gems in European history.

The history of the famous Sansi diamond began in India in the mid-11th century, when it was found by a merchant at the bottom of a deep gorge. The diamond was as clear as clear water and weighed, according to sources, 101.25 carats. Then the diamond belonged to many dynasties of the sultans of Central India. In Europe, the Indian diamond was the talisman of the Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold. He was sure that the stone would protect him in battles and would certainly bring him happiness. The Duke, on whose orders the diamond was cut into a 53.33-carat diamond, wore it inserted into his helmet. In a battle with a mercenary Swiss army, Karl the Bold managed to win a duel with the best enemy fighter, blinding him with a sunbeam from his diamond. The battlefield remained with the Burgundians. However, the Duke died in the Battle of Nancy in 1477, the diamond was stolen from him by a soldier and, not knowing the true value of the stolen goods, he sold the diamond to the regimental chaplain for one guilder. The chaplain, mistaking the diamond for a fragment of polished Venetian glass, resold it to a certain merchant for 7 thalers.

The stone changed owners more than once until it came to a jeweler, who appreciated it and sold it for a lot of money to the Portuguese king Alfonso Africanus.
He, in order to pay off his debts, sold the stone for 100,000 francs to the wealthy Frenchman Marquis Nicholas Harley de Sancy. The stone began to be called “Sancy” after the Marquis. The Sancy diamond was then owned by Cardinal Mazarin, the English King James 11, and the French kings. The precious stone became an adornment of the crown of French monarchs. But “Sancy” did not save Louis XIV, who, as is known, was executed by guillotine. During the French Revolution, the stone, which by that time was worth 1 million livres, was stolen along with other royal jewels. Then, under Napoleon, all of them were found, except for the Sancy diamond. The further fate of the stone was shrouded in mystery until 1828, when it was purchased by Pavel Demidov for 80,000 pounds. It was exhibited at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1867, and then the diamond was acquired by the American industrialist William Waldorf Astor. It is also possible that movie star Elizabeth Taylor also owned the diamond. The illustrious Astor family remained in possession of the relic for 72 years, until the fourth Lord Astor sold the stone to the Louvre for one million dollars. This happened in 1978, and since then the famous diamond can be seen in the Apollo Gallery in the Louvre. The Hope Diamond
is a large diamond weighing 45.52 carats from the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History in Washington. Perhaps the most famous of the New World diamonds. It has a rare deep sapphire blue color of remarkable purity. There is nothing like him in the world.

The history of the stone is covered in legends. It is believed to have been obtained from the 115-carat Tavernier Blue Diamond, which was brought to the Versailles court from India by the famous jewel hunter Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. He bought it somewhere near Golconda. It is believed that the Tavernier diamond was mined in the Collurian mines and at one time adorned the statue of the goddess Sita.

After Tavernier sold his diamond to the royal jeweler, he made several smaller stones from it.
The other had a weight of 69 carats and appeared in the inventories of the royal treasures as the “blue crown diamond” or “blue Frenchman”. Louis XIV is believed to have worn it around his neck set in a gold pendant, and under Louis XV it adorned the royal pendant of the Order of the Golden Fleece. In 1787, the naturalist Mathurin-Jacques Brisson borrowed the stone from the king for scientific experiments. When the royal family came under house arrest with the outbreak of the revolution in 1792, thieves entered the palace and stole all the crown jewels, not excluding the blue diamond. Although the history of the stone according to documents ends here, there are many guesses about its further fate. According to one hypothesis, the theft was staged by Danton to bribe enemies of the revolution; according to another, the stone fell into the hands of the prince regent, and then went under the hammer to cover the debts of one of his favorites. The Hope Diamond is named after its first known owner, British aristocrat Henry Philip Hope, in whose possession it was first seen in documents dating back to 1839. As a rarity in purity, weight and cut, it was exhibited at the world exhibitions of 1851 and 1855. in Paris and London. Even then, suspicion arose that the stone from the Hope collection was obtained from the recutting of the French crown blue diamond. Currently, this version has received scientific confirmation. At the end of the 19th century, the Hope Diamond was inherited by the Earls of Lincoln family. Its last British owner, Lord Pelham Clinton Hope, went bankrupt, after which his wife, an American actress, ran away from him with the son of the mayor of New York. Trying to satisfy creditors, the lord sold the diamond to a London jeweler. Having passed through the hands of several businessmen, the diamond was purchased in 1910 for the astronomical sum of 550 thousand francs by jeweler Pierre Cartier, who began to spread rumors about a curse associated with the stone. During this time, the Hope Diamond managed to be in the hands of celebrities, kings and bankers, it was kidnapped and found, but this is not what made the stone so famous. There is talk of the curse of the Hope Diamond. The people who owned it often suffered misfortunes and losses. This stone was brought from India and sold to the French king Louis XIV. In 1792, the diamond was stolen, but in 1830 it reappeared on the market and was bought by the London banker Henry Hope, whose name it received. There was a rumor about this stone as a fatal stone that brought misfortune to the owner. Diamond was brought to Europe from India... along with the plague. Everyone who owned it was either killed or died under mysterious circumstances: Princess Lamballa was murdered, Queen Marie Antoinette of France was beheaded, the banker's son Hope was poisoned, and his grandson lost his entire fortune. After Cartier, the diamond was owned by Evaline Walsh-McLean, the daughter of the owner of the Washington Post newspaper. To pay off her debts after Walsh-McLean’s death, the stone was sold to the jeweler Harry Winston, who became famous for organizing “diamond balls” in the United States and abroad. During these colorful shows, half of America learned about the diamond. Harry exhibited the Hope Diamond and raised money for charity. Perhaps because of this, he was the only one who was not affected by the diamond's curse. Finally, in November 1958, Winston mailed the diamond to the Smithsonian Institution as a gift, wrapped in plain craft paper out of superstition. Today it is considered the most expensive small object in the world, valued at $200 million, or just under $5 million per carat. The Kohinoor Diamond
is a 105 carat diamond and diamond that is currently in the crown of Queen Elizabeth (UK), one of the most famous diamonds in history. One of the largest diamonds included in the British Crown Treasures. Initially it had a slight yellow tint, but after recutting in 1852 it became pure white. The Kohinoor diamond appeared several thousand years BC. A rich little boy was found on the banks of the Indian Yamuna River. A diamond weighing about eight hundred carats was sewn into the cap. The boy was picked up by elephant drivers and the child and the diamond were taken to the courtyard. According to legend, the boy was the son of the Sun God - Karna. The diamond did not shine so brightly - the ancient cutting systems were imperfect. The first documentary evidence of a diamond dates back to 1304, when Alaad-Din Khilji conquered the principality of Malwa. The diamond, the ancestral jewel of the Rajas weighing 672 carats, was placed in the treasuries of Delhi, where it lay quietly for two centuries. Then Babur, the founder of the Great Mughal dynasty, created a Muslim empire in India, and the diamond again changed its owner and... lost weight. The diamond became the eye of the golden peacock that crowned the “peacock throne.” When the army of the Persian Nadir Shah entered Delhi in 1739, all the diamonds were in place. The only thing missing was the peacock's eye. Under torture, it turned out that Mohammed Shah considers the diamond a talisman and wears it in his turban. During the feast, Nadir invited Mohammed to exchange hats, so the diamond migrated to the Persian treasury. Unwinding his turban, Nadir exclaimed: “Mountain of light!”, or “kokhi-nor” in Farsi. In 1747, Shah Nadir was killed by his own guards. General Abdali, having captured the stone, fled to Afghanistan. In 1813, the Lahore king Ranjit Singh returned the diamond back to India by force of arms and ordered it to be inserted into a bracelet, which he wore at all receptions. When the mutiny of two Sikh regiments broke out in 1848, all the jewelry was declared the spoils of war by the British and transported to England.

The diamond was cut many times, but it still remained dull, contrary to its name. The best cutter in the world, Voorzanger, was summoned from Amsterdam. The invented steam cutting machine was tested at the Kohinoor. And as a result, the giant stone turned into an ordinary diamond weighing 109 carats. In 1911

The Kohinoor was set into the small Royal State Crown of Great Britain made for Queen Mary.
Because of its dramatic history, the Kohinoor Diamond has become England's most famous jewel. The Derianur pink diamond
is one of the most famous diamonds in the world. Weight 182 carats. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, it is “the largest and most beautiful of the diamonds” of the Iranian Shahs. According to legend, the ruler of India, Sultan Ala ud-Din Khilji, had three sons: Khizr Khan, Shihab ud-din Umar and Qutb ud-din Mubarak. In 1316, after the death of their father, they became pretenders to the kingdom and decided to divide the entire territory into three parts. To this end, they set off on a journey through their father's domain. In the mountains they were caught in a downpour, and they took refuge from the weather in one of the caves. Entering inside, they saw that the cave was illuminated by an unusual light that came from a diamond lying on a granite stone. The brothers argued over who it should belong to and began to pray to the gods: Khizr Khan to Vishnu, Umar to the soul of the world Brahma, and Mubarak to the destroyer god Shiva. Shiva heard Mubarak's prayer and fired lightning into the diamond, after which it split into three parts. Each of the fragments exceeded seven hundred carats. Khizr Khan took the largest part for himself, which he called “Dariyai-nur” - “sea of ​​light”. Umar named his stone “Kohi-noor” - “mountain of light”, and Mubarak named his stone “Hindi-noor” - “light of India”. After the brothers ascended the throne, misfortunes began in the country. Famine and epidemics claimed tens of thousands of lives. To gain Shiva's favor, Mubarak sold his diamond to the Shah of Persia. With the money he received, he built a temple and installed a marble statue of Shiva three times tall at the entrance. But the misfortunes continued. And then Khizr Khan and Umar ordered the stonemasons to insert the Derianur and Kokhinur diamonds into the eye sockets of the statue. After which all disasters immediately stopped. Subsequently, “Derianur” and “Kohinur” were built into the throne of the Persian Shah, who attacked India and, among other trophies, captured these diamonds.

Although the Persian monarchs believed that the diamond once belonged to Cyrus the Great, it was in fact mined from the mines of Golconda and, along with the Peacock Throne, was taken from the Mughal capital by Nader Shah in 1739. Apparently, it was made from a huge “table diamond”, which the Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Tavernier saw embedded in the throne of Shah Jahan in 1642. The Noor ul-Ain diamond, which adorns the tiara of the last Shah's wife, Farah Pahlavi, may have come from the same source. After the fall of the Nadir Shah dynasty, the Zends owned the stone, and Feth Ali Shah ordered his monogram to be placed on it. Nasreddin Shah Qajar preferred to wear it on a braid, and Mozafereddin Shah Qajar attached it to the ceremonial turban in which he traveled around Europe in 1902. In the 20th century, the diamond was kept in the Golestan Palace. Reza Pahlavi had it with him during his ceremonial coronation as Shah of Iran.

Kohinoor and its tragic story

In 1304, the conqueror of India, King Babur, first saw a diamond, which his soldiers took from the eye of one of the statues of a local temple. Due to the extremely bright light emanating from this stone, Babur named it “Kohinoor” or “Mountain of Light”. That is what it is called to this day.

At the dawn of its history, the diamond brought only good luck to its owners, but after it was once stolen from a Hindu temple, it became a symbol of discord and strife.

Ultimately, the gem was presented to the Queen of Great Britain, who demanded that it be recut, which was successfully carried out in 1852.

As a result of recutting, a diamond with a natural weight of 793 carats was left with a fragment of 105 carats, which does not convey the natural brilliance of the jewel.

Currently, the Kohinoor crowns the Great Royal Crown of Great Britain and is kept in the Tower of London.

Other famous rough and polished diamonds

Unusual jewelry attracts increased attention not only from jewelers, but also from ordinary people. That is why museums where original diamonds are kept are always crowded with visitors. And treasuries are the place that everyone wants to look into.

Diamond "Millennium Star"

In 1990, an extraordinary diamond weighing 777 carats was found in Zaire. I purchased this untreated stone. For several years, specialists from different countries worked to create one of the best diamonds. The result is a jewel that is perfect both inside and out. This is the main highlight of the Millennium collection.

Diamond collection. "Millennium Star" in the center.

Regent's Diamond

At the beginning of the 18th century, another 400-carat diamond was found in Golconda. He was taken to Britain and sold to Philip II, who was regent for the French child king. This is where the stone got its name.

At the end of the 18th century it was stolen, like many other jewels from the royal treasury. Some disappeared without a trace. But the Regent Diamond was found by agents of the French king. He returned to Napoleon. Today the stone is kept in the Louvre.

Diamond Taylor-Barton

The names of famous diamonds are often shrouded in legend, mystery, or related to their appearance. And this stone was named in honor of the love relationship of famous actors: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The man often gave his lady heart jewelry. But this beautiful diamond, which was found in Africa in 1966, was one of the most expensive gifts.

The actress wore the stone as a pendant or in a ring setting only 30 days a year and was strictly under guard. The rest of the time the jewelry was kept in a safe. When the couple divorced, the diamond was sold at auction. The funds received from it were invested in the construction of a children's hospital.

Taylor-Barton diamond as a pendant for a necklace

Extraordinary "Sancy"

The history of the diamond, which has changed dozens of names over the course of its existence, is interesting. According to legend, in 1084, an Indian Raja paid for this gem, weighing just over 101 carats, two young elephants, twelve unbroken camels and eighty gold coins.

The beautiful teardrop-shaped diamond that resulted from cutting became known as “Sancy”. It weighs 55.23 ct.

The beautiful diamond was owned for many years by the kings of France and Great Britain, as well as by the Russian industrialist Pavel Demidov, whose family sold it in 1865 to the Indian Rajah for a fabulous £100,000 at the time.

Since 1978, the purest stone has been the property of the French Louvre Museum, and everyone has the opportunity to see it with their own eyes.

Read more about the adventures of this gemstone in the article “The History of the Sancy Diamond.”

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Sunday, April 11, 2010 09:57 + in quote book How much blood was shed, how many victims were made for the possession of a piece of carbon... So, the most famous diamonds in the world and their fate.

1. Stormogul. (Great Mogul) “Great Mogul” 2 & 11. Regenten l. Pitt. (Regent) "Diamond of Regent or Pitta" 3 & 5. Florentinaren. (Florentine) "Florentine" 4. Söderns stjärna. (Star of the South) “Star of the South” 6. Sancy. "Sancy" 7. Grön diamant (i Dresdens k. samlingar). (Dresden Green) “Dresden Green” 8. Koh-i-noor i sin äldre form (före 1852). (The Koh-I-Noor's original form) "Kohinoor" 9. Hope, blå diamant. "Hope" 10 & 12. Koh-i-noor i sin nyare (briljant-) form. (The Koh-I-Noor's current form) "Kohinoor" "Great Mogul"

The largest diamond ever found in India. Discovered in 1650 in the Golconda diamond mines, it originally weighed 787 carats. This name was given to it by the French diamond merchant and traveler Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. During his last trip to India in 1665, Tavernier visited the court of the powerful Emperor Aurangzeb, where he saw a diamond (already cut) for the first time. Its cutting was entrusted to the Venetian Hortensio Borghis. According to Tavernier, the 279-carat diamond made by Borgis was shaped like a rose, with a tiny spot visible on the inside and another flaw underneath. After the assassination of Nadir Shah in 1747, traces of the diamond are lost. It is possible that the later famous “Kokhinur” or “Orlov” stones were obtained from it. The Abbas Mirza Diamond may be one of the fragments of the Great Mogul - not the diamond that Tavernier saw, but a rough diamond. "The Diamond of the Regent or Pitta"

One of the most famous diamonds in the world, now kept in the Louvre. Legend has it that the 400-carat stone was found in 1701 at a mine in the Golconda goldfields by a slave miner who cut open his thigh and hid the stone in a wound under a bandage. An English skipper promised a slave freedom for a diamond, but after luring him onto the ship, he took the stone and killed him. In Bombay, a sailor sold the gem to an Indian diamond merchant named Jamkhund for the equivalent of $5,000. In 1702, Jamkhund sold the diamond for 20.4 thousand pounds sterling to the English governor of Madras, Thomas Pitt, whose name the stone was called until 1717, when it was taken out of Madras and was sold for 135 thousand pounds sterling to Philip II, Duke of Orleans, regent for the minor French King Louis XV. In honor of the new owner, the stone received a new name - “Regent”.

Crown of Louis XV. 1722. Gold, diamonds, precious stones. Louvre. Paris. Used at the coronation of Louis XV in 1722 at Reims Cathedral, it was decorated with the famous Regent diamond. The cutting of the stone, during which its weight decreased from 410 to 140.64 carats, was carried out in London. It lasted two years and cost £5,000. The stone remained at the disposal of the Bourbon dynasty as the “nail” of their jewelry collection. He served two generations of French kings. The “Regent” adorned the crown that was placed on the head of Louis XV on the day of his coronation in 1722, and later a diadem commissioned by Queen Marie Leszczynska. It sparkled in the crown of Louis XVI and on the black velvet of the large hat that Queen Marie Antoinette loved to wear. In 1792, during the looting of the royal palace, the stone disappeared, but was later found. The Republican government of France pledged the diamond to the wealthy Moscow merchant Treskoff; It was bought by General Bonaparte (Napoleon I), who ordered it to be inserted into the hilt of his sword.

His widow Marie-Louise of Austria took the stone from France. Subsequently, the Habsburgs returned the miracle stone to Napoleon III, who ordered it to be set into the diadem of his wife Eugenie. In 1886, during the sale of treasures of the French crown, the Regent was bought for 6 million francs for the Louvre Museum. Since then, the stone has remained in the collection of the Louvre. "Florentine" ("Grand Duke of Tuscany", "Austrian Yellow Diamond")

One of the most famous diamonds in European history, now lost. It was a light yellow diamond with a slight greenish tint, weighing 137.45 carats. It is believed to be one of the oldest known diamonds. It came to Europe from India in the 14th century. Jeweler Ludwig van Berken cut it for Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy (1433-1477). According to legend, Charles lost the diamond in 1467 on the battlefield of Grançon. The stone was found by a Swiss soldier (according to another version, a local peasant) and, believing that it was just a piece of yellowish glass, he sold it for only 1 florin. After this, the diamond passed through many hands. It belonged to the Duke of Milan Sforza, then to Pope Julius II, then became the property of the Tuscan Dukes of Medici.

The first description of the diamond belongs to Tavernier, who in 1657 saw it in the Florentine treasury of the Dukes of the House of Medici. After the extinction of the Medici family, it was inherited by the Habsburgs and entered into storage in their Hofburg assembly. In 1918, after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the family of the deposed Emperor Charles, going into exile in Switzerland, took the Florentine with them. After 1921, all information about the stone disappears. It is believed that the diamond was stolen by a person close to the ex-emperor's family and taken to South America. Rumors circulated that a certain large yellow diamond was brought to the United States in the 1920s, where it was recut and sold.

Today there are only four lemon yellow diamonds weighing more than 70 carats in the world. Three of them do not cause suspicion - their origin is known. But the yellow diamond, which was put up (and purchased) at an auction in Switzerland in 1981, aroused increased interest among specialists. From conversations with an elderly woman who put the diamond up for auction, we learned that the stone appeared in her family shortly after the First World War. She remembered that the diamond was at first of a very unusual shape, but her father ordered it to be recut... Have traces of the missing “Florentine” been found? Unfortunately, no one can say this with complete confidence. The diamond of the Burgundian dukes and popes, the rulers of Florence and the Austrian emperors is officially still on the wanted list. "Star of the South"

It was found in Brazil in 1853 at the Bagagema mines. The diamond weighed 201.88 carats. The shape is rhombic (dodecahedron). The color of the diamond was transparent. According to one version, this large diamond was found by an ordinary slave worker, for which he received his freedom. According to another version, the diamond was found by a slave girl who did not receive any reward for her find. The “Star of the South” diamond has changed many owners. The first price at which it was sold was only 3 thousand pounds, but the last one reached 80 thousand pounds (or 400 thousand dollars).

The diamond underwent jewelry processing in Amsterdam. It was used to make a magnificent diamond weighing 128.8 carats. After cutting, the diamond acquired a pinkish-brown hue. The diamond “Star of the South” received its name in Paris, from who for some time was its owner. Almaz even managed to take part in the London Exhibition (1862), which brought him worldwide fame.

At one time, the Star of the South diamond was in the collection of Evelyn Walsh McLean, daughter of the famous Edward McLean (gold miner who became a multimillionaire), but after her death (1949) it was put up for auction. According to the latest data, the “Star of the South” diamond was eventually bought by the Indian prince of Baroda (for the price of 80 thousand pounds), who inserted the diamond into the family necklace (which also contains another famous diamond, the “Star of Dresden”). Then the necklace and the "Star of the South" were lost from sight for many years. It only became known that in 2002 the necklace and diamond were purchased by the Cartier jewelry house. "Sancy"

A pale yellow diamond weighing 55.23 carats (11.046 grams), judging by the cut, is of Indian origin. One of the legendary gems in European history. The history of the Sansi stone is very confusing; perhaps the stories of two or more stones are intertwined. According to the description, the stone is almond-shaped and covered with many small edges on both sides. In the book by R. Valeev “Diamond is a fragile stone” (“Radyanskiy pisennik”, Kyiv, 1973) there is a legend about the origin of the “Sancy” diamond.

According to the author, the stone was found in 1064 in East India by a merchant named Jagattunga. Before polishing, the diamond weighed 101.25 carats. In Ahmednagar, a merchant exchanged the stone with the Sultan, whose name was Vira Rajendra, for two young elephants, twelve unbroken camels and eighty gold coins. At first it was owned by several rulers of the principalities of Central India. Its last owner was Sultan Kut-ud-Din. Then the diamond disappeared - not alone, however, but together with the Grand Vizier. Only in 1325 did it surface again - some merchant who arrived from foreign lands sold it to the Indian Sultan Muhammad. Further traces of the diamond are lost. It is only known that it was exported from India.

Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, with the Order of the Golden Fleece. Rogier van der Weyden. In 1473, the stone ended up in the hands of Charles the Bold. In 1475, on his behalf, the Flemish stone grinder Ludwig Van Bercken processed the stone. As a result, the diamond lost 48 carats in weight and received a double cut with thirty-two facets. After the death of Charles the Bold in the battle of Nancy in 1477, the stone was stolen from his corpse on the fatal field by a marauder; however, there is too little evidence to say this with certainty. The diamond ended up in the possession of the Portuguese king Alfonso Africanus, who sold it to an unidentified person.

Louvre. Royal jewels are kept here, including the famous Regent and Sancy diamonds, as well as the 105-carat Cote de Bretagne ruby. According to historical data, by the 1570s, Nicolas de Sancy, a French attorney in Constantinople, acquired it from a Turkish jeweler. Around 1605, Sancy sold the diamond on credit to the English King James I. It is believed that it was then that he acquired his current name. In a catalog of the Tower jewels compiled in 1605, the stone appears as “a magnificent diamond, cut, purchased from Sancy.” The diamond remained in England for half a century until the exiled Stuarts sold it for 25,000 pounds to Cardinal Mazarin, who bequeathed it to Louis XIV. The Bourbons had the stone at their disposal until the Great French Revolution. At this time, the royal treasury was plundered.

The further fate of the stone was shrouded in mystery until 1828, when it was purchased by Pavel Demidov for 80,000 pounds. In 1865, the Demidovs resold the diamond for £100,000 to the Indian Raja, who sold it to an unknown buyer the following year. In 1867, the Sancy diamond was first exhibited for public viewing at the World Exhibition in Paris. According to the price tag, its value was estimated by the owner at a million francs. After this, nothing was heard about the stone for forty years. In 1906, the Sancy diamond appeared in the collection of the American industrialist William Waldorf Astor. The illustrious Astor family remained in possession of the relic for 72 years, until the fourth Lord Astor sold the stone to the Louvre for one million dollars. This happened in 1978, and since then the famous diamond has been kept in the Apollo Gallery in the Louvre. "Green Dresden"

A pear-shaped diamond with a natural apple green color. The only large (41 carats) example of a diamond of this variety. It owes its unique color to natural radioactivity. Since the 18th century it has been kept in the Dresden treasury of Grunes Gewölbe. A letter from a certain Baron Gautier has survived since 1726, which mentions a London merchant’s proposal to sell a rare green diamond to the Saxon Elector Augustus the Strong for 30 thousand pounds. Naturalist Hans Sloan had a copy of the unique stone, indicating that the original was acquired by Londoner Marcus Moses in Golconda.

It is not known exactly when the stone came to Saxony. According to some reports, the stone was bought by the son of Augustus the Strong, Augustus III, at the Leipzig fair in 1742 through a Dutch intermediary for an amount estimated by historians at 400 thousand thalers. The price of a green almond-shaped stone was equal to the cost of building the entire Dresden Cathedral. One of the Saxon jewelers (possibly Dinglinger himself) placed a green diamond along with a Saxon white diamond in an agraph for the Elector's hat set. It is in this frame that the stone has survived to this day. After World War II, it, along with other Dresden treasures, was in the USSR until 1958. In 2006, it was exhibited in the Moscow Kremlin as part of the exhibition “Cabinet of Treasures of August the Strong.” Currently stored in Dresden. "Hope"

Blue diamond weighing 45.52 carats. Perhaps the most famous of the New World diamonds. It is believed that it was obtained from a 115-carat blue diamond that Jean-Baptiste Tavernier brought to the Versailles court from India. He bought it somewhere near Golconda. It is believed that the Tavernier diamond was mined in the Collurian mines and at one time adorned the statue of the goddess Sita. After Tavernier sold his diamond to the royal jeweler, he made several smaller stones from it. One of them, which once adorned the ring of Empress Maria Feodorovna, is now kept in the Diamond Fund. The other had a weight of 69 carats and appeared in the inventories of the royal treasures as the “blue crown diamond” or “blue Frenchman”. Louis XIV is believed to have worn it around his neck set in a gold pendant, and under Louis XV it adorned the royal pendant of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

When the royal family came under house arrest with the outbreak of the revolution in 1792, thieves entered the palace and stole all the crown jewels, not excluding the blue diamond. Although the history of the stone according to documents ends here, there are many guesses about its further fate. According to one hypothesis, the theft was staged by Danton to bribe enemies of the revolution; according to another, the stone fell into the hands of the prince regent, and then went under the hammer to cover the debts of one of his favorites. The Hope Diamond is named after its first known owner, British aristocrat Henry Philip Hope, in whose possession it was first seen in documents dating back to 1839.

As a rarity in purity, weight and cut, it was exhibited at the world exhibitions of 1851 and 1855. in Paris and London. Even then, suspicion arose that the stone from the Hope collection was obtained from the recutting of the French crown blue diamond. Currently, this version has received scientific confirmation. At the end of the 19th century, the Hope Diamond was inherited by the Earls of Lincoln family. Its last British owner, Lord Pelham Clinton Hope, went bankrupt. Trying to satisfy creditors, the lord sold the diamond to a London jeweler. Having passed through the hands of several businessmen, the diamond was purchased in 1910 for the astronomical sum of 550 thousand francs by jeweler Pierre Cartier, who began to spread rumors about a curse associated with the stone.

Evelyn Walsh-McLean. A chain of 45 oval diamonds was attached to the frame - according to the jeweler’s idea, the Hope diamond could be worn as a necklace or as a bandeau head decoration. After Cartier, the diamond was owned by Evelyn Walsh-McLean, the daughter of the owner of the Washington Post newspaper. To pay off her debts after Walsh-McLean’s death, the stone was sold to the jeweler Harry Winston, who became famous for organizing “diamond balls” in the United States and abroad. During these colorful shows, half of America learned about the diamond. Finally, in November 1958, Winston mailed it to the Smithsonian Institution as a gift. Since 1958 it has been in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. "Kohinoor" (Kohinoor)

From Hindi - "Mountain of Light" - a 105 carat diamond and diamond, which is currently in the crown of Queen Elizabeth (Great Britain). One of the largest diamonds included in the British Crown Treasures (the largest is Cullinan I). Initially it had a slight yellow tint, but after recutting in 1852 it became pure white. It is kept behind armored glass in the Tower of London. The history of Kohinoor can be traced reliably from 1300. Legends tell about much earlier events associated with this stone.

According to Indian legend, a child was found on the banks of the Yamuna River; a beautiful diamond burned in his forehead; this was “Kohinoor”. The elephant driver's daughter picked up the newborn and brought him to the court. This child was none other than Karna, the son of the Sun God mentioned in the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata. The stone, whose net weight was then 600 carats, was installed on the statue of the god Shiva in the place of the third eye, which brings enlightenment.

According to other legends, the origin of the diamond is associated with the sons of Ala ad-din - Khizr Khan, Shihab-ud-din-Umar and Qutub-ud-din-Mubarak. After the death of their father, they decided to divide the entire territory into three parts and went on a journey through the domain. In the mountains they were caught in a downpour, and they took refuge from the weather in one of the caves. Entering inside, they saw that the cave was illuminated by an unusual light that came from a diamond lying on a granite stone. The brothers argued over who should own it and began to pray to the gods. Shiva heard Mubarak's prayer and fired lightning into the diamond, after which it split into three parts. Each of the fragments exceeded seven hundred carats. Khizr Khan took for himself the largest part, which he called “Derianur” - “sea of ​​light”. Umar named his stone “Kohinoor” - “mountain of light”, and Mubarak named his stone “Hindinur” - “light of India”.

After the brothers ascended the throne, misfortunes began in the country. Famine and epidemics claimed tens of thousands of lives. Mubarak sold his diamond to the Shah of Persia. With the money he received, he built a temple and installed a marble statue of Shiva three times tall at the entrance. But the misfortunes continued. And then Khizr Khan and Umar ordered the stonemasons to insert the Derianur and Kokhinur diamonds into the eye sockets of the statue. After which all disasters immediately stopped. Subsequently, “Derianur” and “Kohinur” were built into the throne of the Persian Shah, who attacked India and, among other trophies, captured these diamonds.

This diamond was first mentioned in chronicles in 1304. For several centuries, “Kohinoor” adorned the turban of rajas from the dynasty of the state of Malwa. Legend said that if the "Mountain of Light" ever fell from the Rajah's turban, the entire people of Malwa would become slaves. This is what happened in 1304, when Malwa was conquered by the Delhi Sultan Ala ad-Din. Among other captured treasures, “Kohinoor” also became the property of the winner. However, the diamond later returned to the rulers of Malwa. In 1526, India was invaded by the troops of Sultan Babur, a descendant of Tamerlane. In the decisive battle of Panipat, the Indian troops were defeated. In this battle, Raja Bikeramit was killed and his family captured. Trying to appease the winner, the rajah's wife gave away all the treasures, including the Kohinoor. The conquerors spared the Raja's family.

From then on, the Mughal rulers wore the Kohinoor on their turbans until it was placed in the famous Peacock Throne. People believed that as long as the diamond, as an indestructible emblem, shone over the throne of the great Mughals, the dynasty would continue. The Mughals kept the stone for two hundred years, until 1739, when the ruler of Persia, Nadir Shah, sacked Delhi. After the assassination of the Shah in 1747, his son, who inherited the stone, preferred, according to legend, to die under torture, but did not give up the legendary diamond.

Then “Kohinoor” changed owners many times, ended up in the hands of Afghans, Sikhs, and in 1849 it was kidnapped by the British who captured Lahore. The diamond was sent under strict security to London, where it was presented to Queen Victoria on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the East India Company. He appeared before the eyes of Her Majesty's subjects at the 1851 World Exhibition at the Crystal Palace. However, the stone did not create a sensation: due to its Indian cut, its shine was rather dull. In 1852, the diamond was recut in Amsterdam and acquired a flat shape. The weight of the stone during recutting decreased from 191 to 108.9 carats.

Coronation of the Queen Mother 1937. Nearby is her daughter - now Elizabeth II. In 1853, the Kohinoor was set into the British Royal Crown as part of 2,000 smaller diamonds. In 1911, the diamond was transferred to the crown, which was made for Queen Mary's ascension to the throne. In 1937 it was again transferred to the new crown for the enthronement of Queen Elizabeth, where it currently resides.

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Blessed by the Pope "Golden Jubilee"

The record holder among precious stones is the “Golden Jubilee” diamond (545.67 carats), presented in 1995 by subjects to the King of Thailand on his 50th anniversary.

The diamond itself, weighing 755.5 carats, turned out to be of excellent quality and had virtually no serious defects. That is why it lost so little (about 30%) of its own weight during processing, and the gem received an unusually beautiful cut.

The largest diamond in the world has a golden brown color and large facets that disperse light evenly. For its beautiful appearance and the presence of pure light, the Golden Jubilee was blessed by Pope John Paul II, the Supreme Imam and the Supreme Buddhist Patriarch of Thailand.

The biggest diamonds

The Hope Diamond, which brought a lot of trouble to its owners, was found after the sinking of the Titanic. Considered famous, beautiful and one of the largest diamonds

About 130 million carats of diamonds are mined around the world every year. Specimens larger than 15 carats are rare. Diamonds over 100 carats are considered the largest. They make luxurious jewelry. However, jewelers are not always able to make one diamond out of them. More often they are divided into several precious stones.

History includes no more than a hundred 100-carat diamonds. Each is a very rare and valuable specimen. After all, they are completely different and original.

Diamond "Great Mogul"

The famous Great Mughal Diamond is the largest gem of its kind mined in India. Its weight at that time was 787 carats.

After cutting, it was presented to Jehan, the Shah, who built the Taj Mahal for his beloved wife. According to the description of one of the jewelers who saw the stone in the mid-17th century, it was round and shaped like a tall rose.

In 1739, the capital of the Indian state was captured by the Persians. And the “Great Mogul” went to Shah Nadir, like many other treasures. Among the stolen jewelry was the Eye of Light diamond. But, after 8 years, the ruler is killed, and traces of the diamond are lost. To this day, jewelers put forward their own versions of the disappearance of the jewel:

• someone thinks that “Kohinoor” and “Great Mogul” are the same diamond;
• others believe that the identity of the “Great Mogul” with the “Eagles” stone can be traced.

Unlike the “Great Mogul,” the “Eye of Light” was found. It is now the property of Iran and is held in their national bank.

Diamond "Cullinan"

In Africa, at the beginning of the 20th century, a huge Cullinan diamond was found. It was named after the owner of the mine where precious stones were mined. The untouched diamond was presented to the English king, who entrusted the work to the most famous jeweler in all of Europe, Joseph Ascher. It was he who divided the “Cullinan” into a couple of huge, 7 large and almost a hundred small stones.

Here is a list of the largest diamonds produced:

1. The “Great Star of Africa” adorns the scepter of the English king. Today it is kept in the Tower.
2. The “Second Star of Africa” is kept there, but adorns the crown of the British Empire.
3. “Small Stars of Africa” are now set into a brooch. One of the diamonds is pear-shaped, the second is square.
4. “Brooch of the Heart” - a stone of an unusual shape in the form of a brooch was presented to Queen Mary.
5. "Cullinan VI" is today featured on the Delhi Durbar necklace as a removable pendant.
6. "Cullinan VII" and "Cullinan VIII" are brooches adorning the Delhi Durbar corsage.
7. "Cullinan" number 9 is a luxurious ring.

Diamond "Cullinan"

Diamond "Golden Jubilee"

The fiery yellow Golden Jubilee diamond is often compared to the eye of the tiger. To look at it, you need to stand in a real live queue (there are so many people who want to see this beauty). It was named after the event for which it was presented to the rulers of Thailand. It was the golden anniversary of the reign of King Bhumibol. Today, this jewel is exhibited at the Royal Museum in Bangkok.

This is interesting! "Golden Jubilee" was found in South Africa. However, no one paid attention to him for 4 years. The fact is that this nugget looked like a large piece of dirt, riddled with a large number of cracks. But Gabi Tolkowsky, a famous jeweler, was able to cut this stone. Today, the Golden Jubilee is the eighth largest diamond in the world.

Diamond "Golden Jubilee"

Diamond "Orlov"

The Russian diamond collection also boasts one of the largest diamonds called “Orlov”. Found in India, the gem was given to Shah Jahan. It was he who gave it to cutting. As a result, the stone was almost halved in size.

Legend has it that this diamond was the “third eye” of the statue of the moon god, which stood in the temple of Somnaut. When the city was captured by Muslims, it was miraculously not destroyed, but transported to a new sanctuary. There, the god Vishnu himself appeared to the invaders, who warned that the stone must remain unharmed. Otherwise, a tragic fate awaits the robber and all his descendants.

The owners of Orlov changed often. One day, he was bought by a merchant from Armenia. For a long time the stone lay in a bank, but then it was sold to Ivan Lazarev, a jeweler at the court of His Majesty. And then he fell into the hands of Count Orlov.

With this jewel he wanted to regain the favor of Catherine II. Thus, the stone ended up in the scepter of the kings of the Russian Empire. And today it is stored in the Diamond Fund.

Diamond "Orlov"

Sapphire blue "Hope"

The Hope Diamond, which has an amazing sapphire-blue glow, has dozens of names given to it by its new owners. It is believed that this stone is the most unlucky in the world and brings only bad luck and death to its owners.

It weighs 45.52 carats and is believed to have been stolen from a statue of the ancient Indian goddess Sita in the Middle Ages.

The stone has been the cause of thefts and murders dozens of times, and many of its owners have died in the most mysterious ways.

The creators of the film “Titanic” decided to play on this story, making “Hope” the prototype of the “Heart of the Ocean” diamond and adding additional tragedy to the fate of this precious stone.

Since 1958, “Hope” has been kept in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution (USA), where it was donated free of charge by its last owner, Harry Winston. Its insured value is $350 million.

Read more about the history of this amazing stone in the article “The Hope Diamond: the prototype of the Heart of the Ocean diamond from the Titanic.”

Diamond, whose name translates from Greek as “indestructible,” is formed about 200 km underground under enormous pressure and heat.

They come to the surface during volcanic eruptions, or are mined in old volcanic zones. The diamond is between 990 million and 4.2 billion years old.

A diamond is a diamond that has been cut in such a way as to highlight the natural brilliance of the stone.

To find out how perfect a diamond is, it is assessed using the 4Cs: carat, color, cut and clarity.

A carat is used as a unit of measurement for the weight of a gemstone and is equivalent to 1/5 of a gram. The higher the carat of a diamond, the higher its price.

Several outstanding diamonds have gained worldwide fame due to their history.

The biggest diamonds

Diamond "Great Mogul"

"Great Mughal" was named after Shah Jahan, the ruler of the Mughal Empire who built the Taj Mahal. The diamond was discovered in the Golconda diamond mines in the 1650s, and its weight of 787 carats made it the largest diamond in India.

The diamond was cut into a rose-shaped diamond with a bluish hue. However, the stone was lost first during the war with Persia, and then after the assassination of Nadir Shah, who acquired it in 1739.

After 1747, the "Great Mogul" disappeared and was never seen again, at least in its original form.

There are many versions regarding the fate of this diamond. It is believed that the famous Orlov diamond was subsequently made from it, but the secret has not yet been revealed.

Diamond Cullinan

The Cullinan I was the largest diamond in the world until the Golden Jubilee was discovered.

It was made from a fragment of the largest diamond in history - the Cullinan Diamond, weighing 3,106 carats. The diamond, also called the “Great Star of Africa,” was found on January 26, 1905 in South Africa. It was named after the mine owner, Thomas Cullinan.

The Cullinan was given to King Edward VII on his birthday. The cutting of the largest diamond was entrusted to the famous cutters, the Assker brothers from Amsterdam. Since the diamond had cracks, it could not be made into one large diamond.

Cutting maker Josef Asker spent several months preparing to make one single sure blow on the stone, which would split it along natural cracks. The excitement was so strong that after the ceremonial blow, Asker lost consciousness, but the diamond split into two halves.

The largest of the nine pieces received, the Cullinan I Diamond, adorns the British Queen's scepter and can be seen in the Tower of London with the rest of the British Crown Jewels.

Diamond "Golden Jubilee"

The Golden Jubilee is the largest cut diamond in the world. The golden-brown diamond supplanted the Great Star of Africa and was discovered in 1980 at the Premier mine. For a long time it remained unnoticed, and it was given to the famous cutter Gabriel Tolkowsky to test new cutting tools.

Much to the surprise of many, the Golden Jubilee turned out to be a real treasure weighing 545.6 carats (755.5 carats before cutting).

The resulting diamond was blessed by Pope John Paul II, the Supreme Buddhist Patriarch and Grand Imam of Thailand. It was presented to the richest king in the world - the King of Thailand during the celebration of his 50th birthday.

Diamond "Orlov"

“Orlov” is considered the largest diamond of the Moscow Kremlin Diamond Fund. The origin of the stone, which has the shape and proportions of half a hen's egg, dates back to the 18th century in southern India. Although part of the Orlov's history has been lost, it is believed that it once served as the eye of a statue in an Indian temple.

The stone was stolen by a Frenchman who converted to Hinduism and even became a novice in the temple to carry out his plan.

As a result, the diamond was sold to Count Orlov, who presented it to Catherine II.

The Orlov is a pure white diamond with a bluish-green tint and is very rare as it has retained its original Indian rose cut.

The most expensive diamonds and diamonds

Diamond "Sancy"

The most famous owner of the Sancy diamond is King Henry III, who acquired the stone from his attorney Nicolas de Sancy. The stone served as a beret decoration to cover the king's premature baldness.

According to legend, the messenger who was supposed to deliver the stone was killed. However, the faithful servant kept the stone, which, after opening, was found in his stomach.

The diamond was sold to King James I of England and then to Cardinal Mazarin, who left it to King Louis XIV. During the French Revolution, it disappeared along with the Regent Diamond and the Hope Diamond.

As a result, “Sancy” was sold to the Louvre for a million francs, and is still kept there. Its price has not been established, but it is considered priceless.

Diamond "Kohinoor"

The Kohinoor Diamond or the Mountain of Light has a long history. The first mention of it appeared in 1304, when King Babur discovered a diamond, and since then it passed to all the rulers of the Mughal Empire - a state in the modern territory of India and Pakistan.

Hindus, Mughals, Persians, Afghans, Sikhs and the British fought desperately for the right to possess it throughout history. Almost all owners of Kohinoor suffered an evil fate: death, poisoning, betrayal. From the once huge stone of 793 carats, 105 carats (21.6 grams) remain.

In 1850, the diamond was given to Britain's Queen Victoria, who wore it as a brooch for a long time. The famous Kohinoor was worn by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary and is now in Queen Elizabeth's crown at the Tower of London. Its price has not been established, but it is considered priceless.

Diamond "Hope"

Perhaps the most famous diamond in the world is the Hope Diamond. No one knows how large the stone was before it was cut, where it was found, or who gave it its original shape. It was first mentioned by the French merchant Jean-Baptiste and sold to King Louis XIV.

Some experts believe that it was stolen from a statue of the ancient Indian goddess Sita. It passed to King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, then was stolen and reappeared in 1829. Banker Henry Hope purchased the diamond and the stone is named after him.

The subsequent numerous owners of "Hope" suffered unfortunate fates: violent death, illness, loss of a child and accidents. The Doomstone gained the reputation of being cursed, and it was believed that everyone who touched it would die a terrible death.

Since 1958, the diamond has been in the Smithsonian Institution in the USA. Its price is $350 million.

Other famous rough and polished diamonds

Diamond "Regenta"

The Regent Diamond, also known as the Queen of Hearts, was found in 1698 by a slave in a mine who eventually paid for it with his life. The captain who found the hidden diamond killed a slave and sold the 410-carat stone to an Indian trader and then to British businessman Thomas Peet in 1701. It was reduced to 141 carats.

The Regent Diamond is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It is white, but with a subtle bluish tint that not everyone sees. The diamond became the adornment of Marie Antoinette, Napoleon, King Louis XVIII, Charles X and Napoleon III. Now it is in the famous Louvre Museum.

Diamond "Millennium Star"

The Millennium Star is the 10th largest and 2nd largest D color diamond. Before cutting it weighed 777 carats, and after it weighed 203 carats. A majestic diamond without external or internal flaws was of exceptional purity.

The stone was purchased. It took more than 3 years to give the diamond its classic pear-shaped shape using lasers.

The Millennium Star, along with 11 blue diamonds, was mined from the Premier mine in South Africa. In 2000, these amazing diamonds from the Millennium collection were presented at an exhibition in London.

Taylor-Barton Diamond

The 241-carat diamond, from which the famous diamond was later made, was found in the Premier mine in South Africa. The famous jeweler Harry Winston cut the stone, which became pear-shaped and weighed 69.42 carats. The stone of amazing transparency and beauty became the first diamond sold at auction for more than a million dollars.

Its buyer was Richard Burton, who bought it for his wife, the famous actress Elizabeth Taylor. Elizabeth could wear such a treasure only a few times a year under the protection of guards, and the first time she appeared with it was at the celebration of Princess Grace's birthday in Monaco.

When the actress divorced Barton, she sold the diamond for $5 million and used the proceeds to build a hospital in Botswana. It is believed that this is the first time that a diamond brought anything other than misfortune.

"Regent's Diamond" or "Queen of Hearts"

A stone weighing 410 carats, found in 1698 in India at the Golgonda mines, led to the murder of the slave who discovered it, who tried to hide the gem from the overseer.

Just three years later, the cut Regent, weighing 140.64 carats, shocked everyone with its greatness.

The owners of the most transparent diamond in the world were Napoleon, Louis XVIII, Charles X, Napoleon III, as well as the most famous fashionista in Europe, Queen of France Marie Antoinette.

“Regent” is almost completely white, but the notorious blueness, almost invisible to the eye, gave it an aristocracy, which was very highly valued by the rulers of France.

The beautiful jewel was stolen several times, but French police agents managed to return it. And currently, “The Queen of Hearts” is exhibited in the Louvre, where you can get acquainted with her.

The most expensive diamonds and diamonds

Many diamonds are not for sale. They are kept in museums, treasuries or belong to monarchs, collectors and the richest people. Their price is incredibly huge. Moreover, not only large diamonds are of great value, but also small ones, which have their own uniqueness:

• luxurious coloring;
• an unusual story;
• rare form.

Diamond "Sancy"

The Sancy stone had several dozen names. At the end of the 11th century, one rich rajah paid for it:

• 12 camels;
• 2 elephants;
• 80 pure gold coins.

After cutting, he ended up with a gorgeous teardrop-shaped diamond in his hands. Once it was owned by European kings from Great Britain and France, then it came to Russia to Pavel Demidov. Now the stone is kept in the Louvre, where every visitor can see it.

Stone "Sansi"

Diamond "Kohinoor"

Translated from Farsi, “Kohinoor” means “Mountain of Light”. Many are sure that the only possible value of this diamond is life.

Legend: a couple of thousand years before the birth of Jesus Christ, in a village near the Yamuna River, a boy was born. He was the offspring of the Sun God. His head was decorated with a cap embroidered with gems. In a place of honor was an 800-carat diamond. The royal family kept this stone for a long time. But the Persians took possession of it by deception.

Kohinoor has been cut many times. As a result, it turned into a small but flawless and priceless diamond of 105 carats. He saw many deaths, uprisings, and royal vicissitudes in his lifetime, until he was placed in the crown of the Queen of Great Britain. Today the gem is guarded within the walls of the Tower.

Diamond "Kohinoor"

Diamond "Hope"

One of the most beautiful diamonds in the whole world is Hope. According to legend, it should bring illness and death to its owner. This is because it has a rare deep blue color. According to Indian legend, this is the Eye of Rama. Myth or not, the owners of Hope were indeed in for some serious bad weather:

1. The stone came to Louis along with the plague, which immediately spread throughout Paris. He just asked the jeweler to cut it in the shape of a heart.
2. Marie Antoinette, who received the diamond, gave it to her daughter. The latter was killed, and the queen herself was soon executed during a revolutionary coup.
3. After looting the treasury, “Hope” ended up with the jeweler Vaals. He and his son soon died.
4. Karl of Brunswick, the next owner of the diamond, died during the uprising of his subjects.
5. At the beginning of the 19th century, the stone ended up in the hands of the Hope family. Hence its name. The head of the family decided to sell it in order to get rid of a huge amount of debts.
6. After the sale, he ended up with the wife of the Sultan of Turkey, who was killed during a robbery. And the ruler himself was overthrown from the throne.
7. Prince Korytkovsky from Russia bought “Hope” for his mistress, whom he himself shot in a fit of jealousy. The prince himself was also killed.
8. Then the stone came to the hands of a Spaniard sailing on the Titanic.
9. At an auction, the diamond was bought by an American family in which a child died, and the owners went crazy from this misfortune.
10. Lady Maclean is the next owner of the stone. Upon purchase, she blessed “Hope” in the church. But apparently this didn't help. She lost her husband, two daughters and soon died herself. The granddaughter who took possession of the jewelry died at the age of 25.
11. Harry Winston is one of the few who was not affected by the curse of the diamond. But he decided to part with it without permission, sending it by mail to the Smithsonian Institution.

Maybe this is a thread of coincidence, but today no one wants to become the owner of “Hope”.

Diamond "Hope"

Major finds from South Africa's Premier mine

Distinguished by its amazing clarity, the Millennium Star Diamond was discovered in South Africa and weighed 777 carats, symbolizing wealth. After processing, it turned into a beautiful diamond weighing 203 carats, which shines in the sunlight with all the colors of the rainbow.

It became the highlight of the Millennium diamond collection, mined from the Premier mine in South Africa. Today, the owner of the stone is, whose management does not plan to sell such a jewel.

Also, the Premier mine managed to extract another large diamond weighing 241 carats, which after cutting began to weigh 69.42 carats. This is the first diamond in the world to be sold at auction for more than $1 million.

It was purchased for the famous actress Elizabeth Taylor by her husband Richard Burton. After the sale, the stone was named the Taylor-Barton diamond.

After Barton's death, Elizabeth Taylor sold the stone at auction and used the proceeds to build a hospital in Botswana with $5 million.

The best of the best

The most famous and expensive diamonds in history:

1. 
   Orlov and Black Orlov. The first is a white diamond with a slight bluish-green tint, retaining its original cut in the shape of an Indian rose. This stone of amazing purity changed owners many times, and received its name when it was bought by Count Orlov and presented to Catherine II.

   The largest in the Kremlin’s Diamond Fund, its color and clarity are similar to another famous diamond – the Koh-i-nor. Some even believe that these are the same stone. According to other sources, Orlov is the once missing Great Mogul diamond, the largest ever found in India.

2. Black Orlov (or, as it is also called, “Eye of Brahma”) has a rare and deep black color, step cut and square shape, corresponding to its name.

3. 
   Sancy, brought to Europe from India and is an excellent pale yellow diamond. Its weight is 55.23 carats, its shape is teardrop-shaped (it is also called a “peach pit”). This stone is not the largest, but it once adorned the royal robe, so there were many who wanted to own it. Currently kept in the Louvre, its value has not been established.

4. Koh-i-nor, also known as the "Mountain of Light" (weighing 105.6 carats), with a trail of blood trailing behind it. The history of the stone goes back about two thousand years. According to legend, a diamond was found in the forehead of the son of the Sun God. Later, the stone adorned the statue of Shiva as the third eye, giving enlightenment. The Koh-i-nor was stolen and taken by force many times, but none of its owners lived long.

   
   Finally, the diamond was presented to Queen Victoria, on whose orders it was re-cut (instead of the previous one, made using the “rose” technique). As a result, the clarity and clarity of the diamond improved, but it lost up to 42% of its original weight.

   Currently located in the Tower of London, adorning the Maltese cross in the crown of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Just like the Sancy diamond, it is considered priceless.

5. The Regent or “Queen of Hearts” is perhaps one of the most beautiful in the world. This white diamond with a barely noticeable tint of blue was taken from Golconda (an Indian mine) by one of the slaves who wanted to gain freedom in exchange for the jewel.

   
   However, he was killed, and the stone, having passed through several hands, was purchased for King Louis XV by his regent, Philip of Orleans. Later he was kidnapped from the royal treasury, but still returned to his homeland, France. Now located in the Louvre. The Regent weighs just over 140 carats.

6. Hope, whose name translates to "hope", but is also called the "blue devil" and "blue Frenchman". The origin of the stone is not known for certain. It was named in honor of the British banker Henry Hope, who became one of its many owners. This famous diamond did not bring happiness to the Hope family, nor to the rest of the aristocratic collectors who owned the stone after.

   
   The amazing blue diamond received its final form (cushion cut) after being in the hands of the famous master Pierre Cartier, the founder of the jewelry empire. Another famous jeweler, Harry Winston, after holding a number of exhibitions, the highlight of which was the Hope Diamond, donated it to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. That's where the stone is kept. Its weight is 42.52 carats, and the cost, according to various estimates, tends to 250-350 million dollars.

7. Cullinan (the so-called “Star of Africa”), which is one of the largest diamonds in history. Its original weight was 3106 carats. The diamond was discovered in South Africa (1905), receiving its unusual name in honor of Thomas Cullinan, who owned the mine. The find was presented to King Edward VII. The best craftsmen from Amsterdam were hired to design such a huge diamond. Due to cracks in the stone, it had to be divided.

   
   The diamond was split with one blow into two large parts, seven smaller ones and many small fragments. The largest stone (Cullinan-I), weighing about 530 carats, was cut in the shape of a pear (now it adorns the British royal scepter). The second largest fragment (Cullinan-II, weight - about 317 carats) received an emerald cut and became part of the royal crown. The remaining fragments of the famous diamond, called the “small stars of Africa,” are also extremely valuable. The estimated cost of Cullinan is $2 billion.

8. The Golden Jubilee is the largest processed diamond in the world. This extremely rare golden brown mineral weighs 545.6 carats (after cutting) and is larger than even the famous “Great Star of Africa”. Gifted as an anniversary gift to the King of Thailand, the richest monarch in the world.

9. 
   The Allnett, which is cushion-cut and weighs approximately 102 carats, is believed to have originated in South Africa. The light yellow diamond proudly bears the name of Major Alfred Ernest Allnet, an esthete and philanthropist. The world-famous company Cartier cut this stone, turning it into a true work of art - a flower with a stem and leaves made of platinum. Twice exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution (at the Museum of Natural History).

10. The Pink Star is a relatively “young” diamond, discovered in 1999 in South Africa. Before processing, the stone weighed approximately 132 carats; the weight of the refined mineral was 59.6 carats. It has a fancy pink color, very rare for diamonds. In 2013, it was sold at Sotheby's for a huge sum of more than $83 million.

11. 
    Centenary (or Century), owned by a diamond mining company. On the day of the company's centenary celebration (1988), it was exhibited to the public in its original weight of 599 carats. After processing (the diamond has 247 facets), the magnificent colorless diamond of high purity and heart-shaped shape was leased to the Tower of London. The cost of the Century Diamond is no less than $90 million.

From all the variety of majestic and mesmerizingly beautiful minerals, it is difficult to single out just one, the most expensive diamond in the world. Each of these famous stones is unique in its own way.