Diamonds are forever transcending time. But some diamonds have created special names for themselves in history, to even making some parts of history unforgettable. Because of their popularity, they are given special names to identify them and trace them throughout time. In this article, we are going to look back in time and learn about some of the most unforgettable diamonds in the world.
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The Hope Diamond
This diamond is from 17th century India. The diamond gets its name from the British financier and collector Henry Philip Hope who owned it in the 1830s. The diamond originated in the Kollur mine of India. It was obtained by Jean Baptiste Tavernier in 1666 either by purchase or theft. It was brought to Paris as a large uncut diamond of 115 carats and subsequently went through cuts and polishing to become the Hope diamond of 67 carats. The diamond went through different owners until Harry Winston of U.S.A purchased it in 1949 and donated it to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958 where it remains to this day.
The Tiffany Yellow diamond
It is the largest yellow diamond ever discovered. Weighing around 287 carats, it was found in the Kimberly mines of South Africa in 1877. Today, this beautiful diamond can be found on view in Tiffany & Co.’s flagship store in NYC, USA.
The Great Star of Africa
The Great Star of Africa is the daughter of another famous diamond, the Cullinan. It is the second largest cut diamond in the world at 530 carats. At present, the diamond serves as the headpiece for the sceptre with the cross, one of the British Crown Jewels.
Koh-i-noor
Yet another product of Kollur mine in India, the gem has the most turbulent past of all diamonds we have seen. It was discovered in the 13th century with its weight recorded as 186 carats. It is rumoured to be gifted to the East India Company by the former rulers of Punjab in 1849 but India denies this and claims that the diamond was forcibly taken. The diamond’s ownership is subject to dispute between Britain and India for more than 70 years. Currently, the diamond is on display in the Tower of London as a part of The Crown Jewels.
Darya-i-Noor diamond
Also called “The Ocean of Light”, Darya-i-Noor weighs an estimated 182 carats. It is pink in colour which makes it one of the rarest diamonds in the world. It was originally owned by the Kakatiya dynasty and later belonged to Khiljis and then Mughals. Later, in 1739, when Nader Shah of Persia invaded India and occupied Delhi, the Mughals paid this diamond as a part of the payment for returning the crown. At present, the diamond is present in the Iranian Crown Jewels of the Central Bank of Iran, Tehran.
As we have seen, diamonds are capable of making their own stories. They are extremely rare and beautiful. Right from nose pins to huge pendants, they come in all sizes. If you don’t own one, now is the time to purchase one. If you are still not convinced, look for diamond jewellery designs online and you will find you are actually convinced.