The most famous diamonds in history

The diamond, gem among gems, has always been one of the most valuable precious stones, appreciated and admired for centuries and centuries. There are some diamonds, however, with a history that goes beyond legend : they have an inestimable value and a particular history, which makes them unique in their kind and very famous. Let's discover together some of the most famous diamonds in history!

Koh-i-Noor

The Koh-i-Noor, with its high-sounding name meaning 'mountain of light' , is part of the Queen of England's treasure. Oval in shape, this enormous precious stone weighs 108 carats. The diamond is believed to have the power to bestow luck and happiness on those who wear or possess it. Destined to make its owner rule the entire world, there has been news of it since 1304, when its owner was the Mughal dynasty, descendants of Genghis Khan. The precious jewel came into the hands of Queen Victoria in 1849, during the conquest of the Indian region of Punjab by the British Empire. The Koh-i-Noor became, in the Victorian era, the symbol of English conquering power. Today it is only the symbol of the colonialist raid suffered by India. It is now preserved in the Tower of London, set in the center of the imperial crown.

Cullinan

Legend has it that this diamond, also called the Star of Africa , was found in March 1869 by a Griqua shepherd and sold to a Boer in exchange for a horse, ten oxen and five hundred sheep. The name of this diamond, however, comes from the owner of the Cullinan mine, to whom it was entrusted in the early 1900s. Its fame is associated with the weight of over 3106 carats of the rough stone , which then produced about 105 diamonds, some of which are now placed in the British Crown, during the reign of Edward VII.

Sancy

55 carats for a diamond found and cut in the shape of a shield in Golconda, India. The Sancy arrived in Europe in 1500, becoming the property of the kings of France until the French Revolution. After that, it was considered lost until 1828, when it was sold to the Russian prince Paul I Demidoff. In 1906 it was purchased by William Waldorf Astor, Viscount, with whom it remained until 1978, when it was sold to the Louvre for one million dollars. A history of travel that has made this beautiful diamond truly priceless. It is currently preserved in the Apollo Gallery, at the Louvre.

Florentine

A continuous alternation of legends and documented facts characterizes the history of the Florentine. It is said to be a gem of Indian origin, cut in a double rosette and weighing 137.27 carats. The stone is also called Tuscan or Austrian Yellow , from its pale yellow color. According to some myths, the diamond was cut for Charles the Bold, the last Duke of Burgundy, who was killed in the battle of Morat, wearing it. Then sold by a villager for a few florins, after several changes of ownership it ended up in the hands of the Fugger bankers and, later, the Medici. The gem was later inherited by Maria Theresa of Habsburg, becoming part of the royal jewels of Vienna. After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Florentine was stolen and, according to some legends, recut into the diamond now known as the Tiffany Yellow and worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Hope

Despite its name evoking the positive concept of hope, this 45.52-carat diamond has the unfortunate reputation of bringing bad luck to those who wear it. The Hope family, whose name it bears, were the first to own it, and died in poverty and disgrace, as did its subsequent owners, including Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI. It is now located at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington . The diamond is unusually blue in color and its history begins in India, where it was stolen from the stones of a temple. The gem, also known as the Blue of France, was torn from the eyes of the idol Rama-sita, probably by the jeweler Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. Those who believe in the power of curses claim that it was Rama-Sita who poured her wrath into the jewel, making it a true bad luck charm . Legends, myths and realities that intertwine in the history of these precious stones of inestimable value. Beautiful, yet so powerful that they are remembered throughout the centuries. Which legend fascinated you the most? See you here, very soon, with many other curiosities! Olga