Historic Diamonds of the World - world tour of famous diamonds

HISTORIC DIAMONDS OF THE WORLD

The Régent

Discovered: 1698

Weight: 140.64 carats

Owner: France (Displayed at Louvre)

A truly historic diamond discovered in 1701 by an Indian slave near Golconda, it weighed 410 carats in the rough. A wonderful stone of Indian origin, this was originally known as the Pitt Diamond after Thomas Pitt who acquired it after 1701 under circumstances that remain murky to this day. He claimed to pay £20,000 for it and it cost £5000 and took 2 years to cut.
It was cut into a cushion shaped brilliant of 140.50 carats and, until it was sold to the Duke of Orleans, Regent of France when Louis XV was a boy-at that time in 1717, was called The Pitt. It was then renamed The Régent and set in the crown that Louis XV wore at his coronation.
After being stolen in 1792 it was recovered a year later and became The National Diamond of France.
After the French revolution, it was owned by Napoleon Bonaparte who set it in the hilt of his sword. It is now on display in the Louvre.

The Hope Diamond

Discovered: 1812

Weight: 45.52 carats

Owner: Smithsonian Natural History Museum

Estimated value: $200,000,000

Hope diamond
The unusual and strikingly beautiful Blue diamond that became the Hope, appeared in Europe in 1669 and is believed to be from Golconda. In its original state it is believed to have weighed 110.5 metric carats.
It acquired its name from Henry Philip Pope a banker, It was displayed in 1851 and 1855 but was sold in 1901. It was sold again in 1909 and again in 1910, by Cartier who had repolished it and set it. The new owner, a Mrs. McLean immediately had the stone blessed. At her death in 1947 it was valued at $176,920 Harry Winston purchased the stone in 1949 and he presented it to the Smithsonian in 1958.
The Hope Diamond is 45.52 carats, and it is supposed to be cursed.

Kooh-I-Noor

Discovered: 1304

Weight: 108.93 carats

Owner: British Royal Family

Régent diamond
Kooh-I-Nor means mount of light, this precious stone has a longest history for an extant stone. In those ancient times possession of such a gem symbolized the power of an empire.
In 14th century it was stated to be valued at half the daily expense of the whole world. It arrived in England in 1850 and was presented to Queen Victoria on 3rd of July. It originally weighed 186carats(190metric). and took 38days to cut to its present form. It is currently an Oval Brilliant of 108.93metric carats.

In 1911 a new crown was made for the coronation of Queen Mary with the Koh-i-Noor as the center stone. In 1937, it was transferred to the crown of Queen Elizabeth I. for her coronation. It is now on display with the British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.

Cullinan I (the Star of Africa)

Discovered: 1905

Weight: 530.20 carats

Owner: British Royal Family

De Beers, the world's biggest diamond company declaring that they were selling the historic Cullinan Diamond Mine in South Africa where the largest diamond ever found.

"Over the last 100 years, Cullinan has played an integral part in writing the history of diamonds - giving the world its largest ever gem diamond, the Cullinan diamond, as well as many of the most famous and spectacular diamonds ever seen, including the two largest polished diamonds," he added.

The Cullinan Diamond Mine, established in 1902, is famous for the world's largest ever rough diamond, The Cullinan Diamond, which was discovered in 1905 and weighed over 3000 carats uncut.

De Beers company, the one that produced the largest diamond, The Cullinan, which weighed over 3000 carats, uncut.

The grand mine will go off for $147 million to the Petra Diamonds that is the second largest producer of diamonds in South Africa after De Beers, and is partnered in the country by Thembinkosi Mining Investments (Pty) Ltd which "brings together a significant pool of empowerment players".

The Cullinan Diamond Mine is one of the most illustrious diamond mines in South Africa and we are delighted to have concluded this transaction which will ensure a viable and sustainable mining operation for many years to come," said Petra chief executive Johan Dippenaar.

This will enable De Beers to best use our capital to invest in exciting growth opportunities and to sustain a strong diamond mining business in South Africa for the future," said Gareth Penny, Managing Director of the De Beers Group.

The mine is also the world's only significant producer of rare blue diamonds.

Cullinan II (the lesser Star of Africa)

Discovered: 1905

Weight: 317.40 carats

Owner: British Royal Family

The Cullian II is 317.40 carat stone cut into a cushion shaped. It is the center-front of the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain. Note the 2 platinum loops on the top and bottom edges. This feature has been added to allow the stone to be worn as a brooch or alone with the Cullinan 1 attached

Cullinan III and IV

Discovered: 1911

Weight: 94.40 and 63.60 carats

Owner: British Royal Family

Cullinan III is the pear shaped stone shown left and weighs 94.4cts and together with Cullinan IV were originally set in the Crown for Queen Mary on the Coronation of George V in 1911. When Queen Elizabeth inherited them they were affectionately called "Granny's Chips". Cullinan IV is the Cushion cut shown right and weighs 63.6ctsThe 2 stones are now set as a brooch

Cullinan V (Heart broach)

Discovered: 1910

Weight: 18.80 carats

Owner: British Royal Family

The unusual heart-shaped stone of 18.8 carats, given by the Government of South Africa to Queen Mary in 1910, is one of the nine numbered Cullinan diamonds. In its diamond and platinum setting, it was designed both as a brooch and as the detachable center of the emerald and diamond stomacher made for the Delhi Durbar in 1911. For the 1937 coronation, Queen Mary used this brooch in her coronet in the place of the Koh-i-Nûr, which had been transferred to Queen Elizabeth’s crown. It was bequeathed to The Queen by Queen Mary in 1953.

PICTURE CREDITS:

the-rings.com, runyansjewelers.com, banglesandbrides.com, si.edu, inbardiamond.com, usf.edu, blindowl.org, blogger.com, finejewelrydesigns.com, crystalvine.com, diamondvues.com, diamondmadeeasy.com, jewelleryvaluer.com, royalcollection.org.uk

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