The World's Most Valuable Stones
.jpg)
The hope diamond, also known as Le bleu de France is believed to
have originated in India from the Kollur mine in the seventeenth
century. It is said that the french merchant Jean Baptiste Tavernier
purchased this extraordinary blue violet stone from a slave between the
years 1640 and 1667. He then sold it to king Louis X1V of France in
1668 where it then became known as the " French Blue ".
This captivating blue diamond then passed through the hands of Nicolas Fouquet, princess de Lamballie and Queen Marie Antoinette. Until in 1792 it was stolen during the looting of the french crown jewels during the revolution. It did not resurface until 1812, where it appeared to have being re-cut. It was then bought by king George 1V of England, reports suggest that because of the kings enormous debts that the diamond was sold through private channels to Henry Philip Hope in 1839 and was renamed the Hope Diamond.
The hope diamond then regularly changed hands until in 1958 Harry Winston donated the diamond to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Where it remains on display today. At the Smithsonian museum the diamonds weight was found to be 45.52 carat and has an estimated value of $250 million. After the Mona Lisa, it is the second most visited artwork in the world.
STAR OF INDIA
The star of India is a massive 563.35 carat and is an almost flawless star sapphire. This stone, like all other star sapphires is a cabochon with a dome shaped front. But unlike other star sapphires, the sharp six ray star appears on both sides of the stone. The stone has been expertly cut, with the star exactly in the center of the dome shaped face.
The Star of India was mined and cut in Sri Lanka about 300 years ago. Sri Lanka has been famous for it`s gemstones since the time of King Solomon in the 10th century BC. The name given by Arab travelers to Sri Lanka was "Serendib" which means land of rubies. Sri Lanka still produces an amazing variety of gemstones including aquamarine, topaz, star sapphires, star rubies and many others.
In 1900, a successful financier called J.P. Mogan donated the Star of India to the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. Where it remains today. In 1964 the priceless sapphire together with three other famous gemstones, the eagle diamond, the delong star ruby and the midnight sapphire were stolen from the museum. The robbery was carried out by Jack Murphy and Allan Kuhn, who both received a three year prison sentence for the crime. The Star of India was later recovered in a locker in a Miami bus station. The eagle diamond was never recovered.
THE GREAT STAR OF AFRICA
The Cullinan diamond is the largest diamond ever to be found. Weighting 3106.75 carat ( about 4.1 inches long ), it was found in Pretoria, South Africa in 1905 by Thomas Evan Powell. The Cullinan diamond was cut into nine large stone and 94 smaller stones. The largest of these diamonds became known as Cullinan 1 or The Great Star of Africa.
The Star of Africa was faceted into a pear shape and weights 530.2 carat. It is part of the royal scepter and remains in the Tower of London, were it can be viewed along with the other crown jewels. It has an estimated value of $400 million.
THE TIFFANY YELLOW DIAMOND
The Tiffany yellow was discovered in 1877 in the Kimberly mines in south Africa. Before it was cut the stone weight 287.42 carat and has a beautiful canary yellow color. It is considered to be one of the worlds largest yellow diamonds and it was purchased by the New York jeweler Charles Tiffany. He then gave the diamond to George Frederick Kunz in Paris to have it cut. It is said that he studied the stone for one year before he cut it. The diamond was cut giving it a total of 90 facets, 48 on the pavilion, 40 on the crown plus the table and culet. The diamond is high in fluorescence and retains it`s color even under artificial light. It has an estimated value of over $400 million.
QUEEN MARIE OF ROMANIA`S SAPPHIRE
This enormous cushion shaped sapphire, weighting 478.68 carat is held in place by diamond floral motifs at three points. It has a breathtaking deep blue color and is one of the largest sapphires in the world. It is slightly narrower at one end, creating a drop effect.
The sapphire was purchased by King Ferdinand of Romania in 1921 for Queen Marie, who was famous as an ambassador for Romania`s cultural interests. The sapphire was sold in 1947 when King Michael ( grandson of Queen Marie ), left Romania and was acquired by Harry Winston.
On November 19, 2003 at Christies of Geneva the sapphire came up for auction and was described as "property of a noble family". The estimate for the stone is about $1.3 million. Queen Marie of Romania`s Sapphire is the largest sapphire ever presented at auction and with it1`s history and fascinating beauty it can surely be described as a "unique jewel".
This captivating blue diamond then passed through the hands of Nicolas Fouquet, princess de Lamballie and Queen Marie Antoinette. Until in 1792 it was stolen during the looting of the french crown jewels during the revolution. It did not resurface until 1812, where it appeared to have being re-cut. It was then bought by king George 1V of England, reports suggest that because of the kings enormous debts that the diamond was sold through private channels to Henry Philip Hope in 1839 and was renamed the Hope Diamond.
The hope diamond then regularly changed hands until in 1958 Harry Winston donated the diamond to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Where it remains on display today. At the Smithsonian museum the diamonds weight was found to be 45.52 carat and has an estimated value of $250 million. After the Mona Lisa, it is the second most visited artwork in the world.
STAR OF INDIA
The star of India is a massive 563.35 carat and is an almost flawless star sapphire. This stone, like all other star sapphires is a cabochon with a dome shaped front. But unlike other star sapphires, the sharp six ray star appears on both sides of the stone. The stone has been expertly cut, with the star exactly in the center of the dome shaped face.
The Star of India was mined and cut in Sri Lanka about 300 years ago. Sri Lanka has been famous for it`s gemstones since the time of King Solomon in the 10th century BC. The name given by Arab travelers to Sri Lanka was "Serendib" which means land of rubies. Sri Lanka still produces an amazing variety of gemstones including aquamarine, topaz, star sapphires, star rubies and many others.
In 1900, a successful financier called J.P. Mogan donated the Star of India to the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. Where it remains today. In 1964 the priceless sapphire together with three other famous gemstones, the eagle diamond, the delong star ruby and the midnight sapphire were stolen from the museum. The robbery was carried out by Jack Murphy and Allan Kuhn, who both received a three year prison sentence for the crime. The Star of India was later recovered in a locker in a Miami bus station. The eagle diamond was never recovered.
THE GREAT STAR OF AFRICA
The Cullinan diamond is the largest diamond ever to be found. Weighting 3106.75 carat ( about 4.1 inches long ), it was found in Pretoria, South Africa in 1905 by Thomas Evan Powell. The Cullinan diamond was cut into nine large stone and 94 smaller stones. The largest of these diamonds became known as Cullinan 1 or The Great Star of Africa.
The Star of Africa was faceted into a pear shape and weights 530.2 carat. It is part of the royal scepter and remains in the Tower of London, were it can be viewed along with the other crown jewels. It has an estimated value of $400 million.
THE TIFFANY YELLOW DIAMOND
The Tiffany yellow was discovered in 1877 in the Kimberly mines in south Africa. Before it was cut the stone weight 287.42 carat and has a beautiful canary yellow color. It is considered to be one of the worlds largest yellow diamonds and it was purchased by the New York jeweler Charles Tiffany. He then gave the diamond to George Frederick Kunz in Paris to have it cut. It is said that he studied the stone for one year before he cut it. The diamond was cut giving it a total of 90 facets, 48 on the pavilion, 40 on the crown plus the table and culet. The diamond is high in fluorescence and retains it`s color even under artificial light. It has an estimated value of over $400 million.
QUEEN MARIE OF ROMANIA`S SAPPHIRE
This enormous cushion shaped sapphire, weighting 478.68 carat is held in place by diamond floral motifs at three points. It has a breathtaking deep blue color and is one of the largest sapphires in the world. It is slightly narrower at one end, creating a drop effect.
The sapphire was purchased by King Ferdinand of Romania in 1921 for Queen Marie, who was famous as an ambassador for Romania`s cultural interests. The sapphire was sold in 1947 when King Michael ( grandson of Queen Marie ), left Romania and was acquired by Harry Winston.
On November 19, 2003 at Christies of Geneva the sapphire came up for auction and was described as "property of a noble family". The estimate for the stone is about $1.3 million. Queen Marie of Romania`s Sapphire is the largest sapphire ever presented at auction and with it1`s history and fascinating beauty it can surely be described as a "unique jewel".
No comments :
Post a Comment