10 most famous Diamonds

Diamond Facts:

• Up to eighty percent of the world's diamonds are only suitable for industrial purposes.
• Diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance known to man—the only thing that can cut a diamond is another diamond.
• Diamonds are crystals formed out of carbon.
• Diamond is considered a traditional engagement ring in many parts of the world and an anniversary gift for the sixtieth and seventy-fifth years of marriage.
• Some diamonds glow blue or orange when they are exposed to ultraviolet light.
• The earliest diamonds came from India, and were found in the beds of streams.
• Pink diamonds are rather common in Australian diamond mines. A one carat pink diamond recently sold for over $850,000.
• Diamonds are formed 190 miles or more beneath the earth's surface, and rise upward through kimberlite and lamproite igneous pipes.
• Until very recently, eighty percent of the world diamond trade was controlled by DeBeers. This cartel kept the value of diamonds at a consistent level.
• Diamonds are evaluated by the four C's: Color, Clarity, Cut, and Caratage.

1. The Dresden diamond weighs 41 carats. It probably came from India, but its early history is obscure. Schumann (1995) stated it was “supposedly bought in 1742 by Friedrich August II, Duke of Saxony, for 400,000 taler. Kept in the Green Hall in Dresden.” This diamond is cut in a pear shape and has a beautiful emerald-green color. One of the Rarest Diamonds in the World--A Comparatively Small Gem Valued now at 50,000 $.

2. The Hope Diamond is a 45.52 carat diamond, and is now in the Smithsonian
Institution in Washington, D.C. It first appeared in the diamond trade in 1830.
It was first bought by a banker whose name was H. Ph. Hope, and it is believed
the diamond was cut from a larger gemstone. The Hope diamond has an emerald cut
and is a deep blue color. The Hope diamond became the property of the
Smithsonian in 1958.

Facts : Dark blue in color.Size: 21.78 mm wide, 25.60 mm long, 12.00 mm deep

After exposure to ultraviolet light it phosphoresces red (most other blue
diamonds phospheresce light blue). Surrounded by 16 white diamonds plus an
additional 45 white diamonds which make up the necklace chain

According to the legend, a curse befell the large, blue diamond when it was
plucked (i.e. stolen) from an idol in India - a curse that foretold bad luck and
death not only for the owner of the diamond but for all who touched it.

Whether or not you believe in the curse, the Hope diamond has intrigued people for centuries. Its perfect quality, its large size, and its rare color make it strikingly unique and beautiful. Add to this a varied history which includes being owned by King Louis XIV, stolen during the French Revolution, sold to earn money for gambling, worn to raise money for charity, and then finally donated to the Smithsonian Institution. The Hope diamond is truly unique.

Is there really a curse? Where has the Hope diamond been? Why was such a valuable gem donated to the Smithsonian?

3. The Cullinan I, Star of Africa, is a pear shaped fine white diamond that weighs a whopping 530.20 carats .

The Cullinan was discovered in 1905. “It was purchased by the Transvaal Government and presented to King Edward VII of England,”

Of all the worlds largest diamonds Cullinan I is the largest. It was cut by Asscher in Amsterdam, and has 74 facets.

It has the further distinction of being cut from the largest rough diamond ever found--the Cullinan--which weighed 3106 carats or over 1 ¼ pounds. The Cullinan now resides in the Tower of London and is set in the sceptre of King Edward VII.
The Cullinan I gets its name from Sir Thomas Cullinan who was chairman of the mining company that discovered it.

4. The Sancy is a 55 carat diamond, and is also cut in a pear shape. It has been a cut stone for over five hundred years. Legend has it that it was worn by Charles the Brave in the 1470’s. It
was bought on the open market in 1570 by Signeur de Sancy, whose name has been associated with the diamond ever since. The stone has belonged to the Astor family of London since 1906.

5. The Tiffany diamond comes from the famous Kimberley mine in South Africa. The Tiffany diamond weighs 128.51 carats, and was cut from a piece of rough stone that weighed 287.42 carats. It appears in "Bird on a Rock," a setting designed in the early 1960s by Jean Schlumberger.

The largest golden diamond known today is cut in a unique cushion shape. It was given 90 facets, 32 more than the standard brilliant cut, and these extra facets give the great yellow diamond the effect of smoldering fire. You can see this fabulous stone at Tiffany’s in New York City.



6. The Koh- i-noor diamond has a long and controversial history, first mentioned as being acquired in 1304 from an Indian family who had owned the stone for generations. Other accounts of the stone's history begin in 1526, while conflicting reports contend the stone was mined near the Krishna River and pres ented to an emperor in 1656. The diamond did originate in India though and was stolen from Delhi in 1739, taken to Iran. From Iran it was acquired by Afghans, who lost it to Indian rulers, who then came under British rule in 1849 and placed the diamond among the crown jewels. Koh-i-noor's first faceting resulted in a 191 carat irregular shaped gem with little fire, somewhat contrary to the translation of Koh-i-noor, which means mountain of light. It was recut to enhance brilliance and fire, reducing the size to a 109 carat, shallow, oval brilliant cut.






7. The Cullinan IV is one of the 105 stones that were cut from the greatest piece of rough diamond ever found. It weighs 63.60 carats. It was once in the crown of Queen Mary, and can be removed from the crown to be worn as a brooch. It is stored in the Tower of London .

8. The Excelsior *which means higher* is not only one of the worlds largest diamonds it is the second largest diamond ever found. It originally weighed 995.2 carats. The diamond was cut into ten pieces, the three largest weighing 158, 147 and 130 carats. These pieces were then cut into 21 gems ranging from 70 carats to less than 1 carat. An African mine worker found the diamond as he was loading his truck, he kept the find secret until he could safely turn it over to the mine manager who rewarded him with some money, a horse and a saddle.






9. The Shah diamond came from India and weigh 88.70 carats. Ithas the names of three monarchs engraved on it, including the Shah of Persia (namesake). It is now in the Kremlin in Moscow, where it has been since 1829, when it was given as a gift to Tsar Nicholas. It is partly polished along its cleavage planes

10."The 'Florentine,' also called the 'Great Florentine diamond,' actually forming part of a hatbutton, is known to be one of the largest diamonds in the world. It weighs 133 1/3 carats of Vienna, but is rather yellow. The stone is cut in nine surfaces covered with facets forming a star with nine rays. This jewel was once the property of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, who according to the custom of the day carried all his valuables in the battle-field, first to have them always in sight, and, secondly, on account of the mysterious power then attributed to precious stones. Charles lost this diamond at the battle of Morat on the 22nd June, 1476. Tradition relates that it was picked up by a peasant who took it for a piece of glass, and sold it for a florin. The new owner, Bartholomew May, a citizen of Berne, sold it to the Genoese, who sold it in turn to Ludovico Moro Sforza. By the intercession of the Fuggers it came into the Medici treasury at Florence. When Francis Stephen of Lorraine exchanged this Duchy against the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, he became the owner of the 'Florentine Diamond.' Through this prince, who became later on the consort of the Empress Maria Theresa, this diamond came into the private treasury of the Imperial House at Vienna. At the coronation of Francis Stephen as Emperor of Germany at Frankfort-on-the-Main, the 4th day of October, 1745, the 'Florentine diamond' adorned the crown of the House of Austria."

This stone has been variously estimated at pound 40,000 to pound 50,000, and even at pound 155,000. But for its citron hue the latter might not perhaps be too high an estimate of its value.