The most famous diamonds in the world. Famous diamonds

How much blood was shed, how many victims were made for the possession of a piece of carbon... So, the most famous diamonds in the world and their fate.

1. Stormogul. (Great Mogul) "Great Mogul"
2 & 11. Regenten l. Pitt. (Regent) "The Regent or Pitta Diamond"
3 & 5. Florentinaren. (Florentine) "Florentine"
4. Söderns stjärna. (Star of the South)
6. Sancy. "Sancy"
7. Grön diamant (i Dresdens k. samlingar). (Dresden Green) "Dresden Green"
8. Koh-i-noor i sin äldre form (före 1852). (The Koh-I-Noor's original form) “Kohinoor”
9. Hope, blå diamond. "Hope"
10 & 12. Koh-i-noor i sin nyare (briljant-) form. (The Koh-I-Noor's current form) “Kohinoor”

"Great Mogul"

The largest diamond ever found in India. Discovered in 1650 in the Golconda diamond mines, it originally weighed 787 carats. This name was given to it by the French diamond merchant and traveler Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. During his last trip to India in 1665, Tavernier visited the court of the powerful Emperor Aurangzeb, where he saw a diamond (already cut) for the first time. Its cutting was entrusted to the Venetian Hortensio Borghis. According to Tavernier, the 279-carat diamond made by Borgis was shaped like a rose, with a tiny spot visible on the inside and another flaw underneath. After the assassination of Nadir Shah in 1747, traces of the diamond are lost. It is possible that the later famous “Kokhinur” or “Orlov” stones were obtained from it. The Abbas Mirza Diamond may be one of the fragments of the Great Mogul - not the diamond that Tavernier saw, but a rough diamond.

"The Diamond of the Regent or Pitta"

One of the most famous diamonds in the world, now kept in the Louvre. Legend has it that the 400-carat stone was found in 1701 at a mine in the Golconda goldfields by a slave miner who cut open his thigh and hid the stone in a wound under a bandage. An English skipper promised a slave freedom for a diamond, but after luring him onto the ship, he took the stone and killed him. In Bombay, a sailor sold the gem to an Indian diamond merchant named Jamkhund for the equivalent of $5,000. In 1702, Jamkhund sold the diamond for 20.4 thousand pounds sterling to the English governor of Madras, Thomas Pitt, whose name the stone was called until 1717, when it was taken out of Madras and was sold for 135 thousand pounds sterling to Philip II, Duke of Orleans, regent for the minor French King Louis XV. In honor of the new owner, the stone received a new name - “Regent”.

Crown of Louis XV. 1722. Gold, diamonds, precious stones. Louvre. Paris.
Used at the coronation of Louis XV in 1722 at Reims Cathedral, it was decorated with the famous Regent diamond.

The cutting of the stone, during which its weight decreased from 410 to 140.64 carats, was carried out in London. It lasted two years and cost £5,000. The stone remained at the disposal of the Bourbon dynasty as the “nail” of their jewelry collection. He served two generations of French kings. The “Regent” adorned the crown that was placed on the head of Louis XV on the day of his coronation in 1722, and later a diadem commissioned by Queen Marie Leszczynska. It sparkled in the crown of Louis XVI and on the black velvet of the large hat that Queen Marie Antoinette loved to wear. In 1792, during the looting of the royal palace, the stone disappeared, but was later found. The Republican government of France pledged the diamond to the wealthy Moscow merchant Treskoff; It was bought by General Bonaparte (Napoleon I), who ordered it to be inserted into the hilt of his sword.

His widow Marie-Louise of Austria took the stone from France. Subsequently, the Habsburgs returned the miracle stone to Napoleon III, who ordered it to be set into the diadem of his wife Eugenie. In 1886, during the sale of treasures of the French crown, the Regent was bought for 6 million francs for the Louvre Museum. Since then, the stone has remained in the collection of the Louvre.

"Florentine"("Grand Duke of Tuscany", "Austrian Yellow Diamond")

One of the most famous diamonds in European history, now lost. It was a light yellow diamond with a slight greenish tint, weighing 137.45 carats. It is believed to be one of the oldest known diamonds. It came to Europe from India in the 14th century. Jeweler Ludwig van Berken cut it for Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy (1433-1477). According to legend, Charles lost the diamond in 1467 on the battlefield of Grançon. The stone was found by a Swiss soldier (according to another version - a local peasant) and, believing that it was just a piece of yellowish glass, he sold it for only 1 florin. After this, the diamond passed through many hands. It belonged to the Duke of Milan Sforza, then to Pope Julius II, then became the property of the Tuscan Dukes of Medici.

The first description of the diamond belongs to Tavernier, who in 1657 saw it in the Florentine treasury of the Dukes of the House of Medici. After the extinction of the Medici family, it was inherited by the Habsburgs and entered into storage in their Hofburg assembly. In 1918, after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the family of the deposed Emperor Charles, going into exile in Switzerland, took the Florentine with them. After 1921, all information about the stone disappears. It is believed that the diamond was stolen by a person close to the ex-emperor's family and taken to South America. Rumors circulated that a certain large yellow diamond was brought to the United States in the 1920s, where it was recut and sold.

Today there are only four lemon yellow diamonds weighing more than 70 carats in the world. Three of them do not cause suspicion - their origin is known. But the yellow diamond, which was put up (and purchased) at an auction in Switzerland in 1981, aroused increased interest among specialists. From conversations with an elderly woman who put the diamond up for auction, we learned that the stone appeared in her family shortly after the First World War. She remembered that the diamond was at first of a very unusual shape, but her father ordered it to be recut... Have traces of the missing “Florentine” been found? Unfortunately, no one can say this with complete confidence. The diamond of the Burgundian dukes and popes, the rulers of Florence and the Austrian emperors is officially still on the wanted list.

"Star of the South"

It was found in Brazil in 1853 at the Bagagema mines. The diamond weighed 201.88 carats. The shape is rhombic (dodecahedron). The color of the diamond was transparent. According to one version, this large diamond was found by an ordinary slave worker, for which he received his freedom. According to another version, the diamond was found by a slave girl who did not receive any reward for her find. The “Star of the South” diamond has changed many owners. The first price at which it was sold was only 3 thousand pounds, but the last one reached 80 thousand pounds (or 400 thousand dollars).

The diamond underwent jewelry processing in Amsterdam. It was used to make a magnificent diamond weighing 128.8 carats. After cutting, the diamond acquired a pinkish-brown hue. The “Star of the South” diamond received its name in Paris, from the company “Halphen & Associates”, which for some time was its owner. Almaz even managed to take part in the London Exhibition (1862), which brought him worldwide fame.

At one time, the Star of the South diamond was in the collection of Evelyn Walsh McLean, daughter of the famous Edward McLean (gold miner who became a multimillionaire), but after her death (1949) it was put up for auction. According to the latest data, the “Star of the South” diamond was eventually bought by the Indian prince of Baroda (for the price of 80 thousand pounds), who inserted the diamond into the family necklace (which also contains another famous diamond, the “Star of Dresden”). Then the necklace and the "Star of the South" were lost from sight for many years. It only became known that in 2002 the necklace and diamond were purchased by the Cartier jewelry house.

"Sancy"

A pale yellow diamond weighing 55.23 carats (11.046 grams), judging by the cut, is of Indian origin. One of the legendary gems in European history. The history of the Sancy stone is very confusing; perhaps the stories of two or more stones are intertwined. According to the description, the stone is almond-shaped and covered with many small edges on both sides. In the book by R. Valeev “Diamond is a fragile stone” (“Radyanskiy pisennik”, Kyiv, 1973) there is a legend about the origin of the “Sancy” diamond.

According to the author, the stone was found in 1064 in East India by a merchant named Jagattunga. Before polishing, the diamond weighed 101.25 carats. In Ahmednagar, a merchant exchanged the stone with the Sultan, whose name was Vira Rajendra, for two young elephants, twelve unbroken camels and eighty gold coins. At first it was owned by several rulers of the principalities of Central India. Its last owner was Sultan Kut-ud-Din. Then the diamond disappeared - however, not alone, but together with the Grand Vizier. Only in 1325 did it surface again - some merchant who arrived from foreign lands sold it to the Indian Sultan Muhammad. Further traces of the diamond are lost. It is only known that it was exported from India.

Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, with the Order of the Golden Fleece. Rogier van der Weyden.

In 1473, the stone ended up in the hands of Charles the Bold. In 1475, on his behalf, the Flemish stone grinder Ludwig Van Bercken processed the stone. As a result, the diamond lost 48 carats in weight and received a double cut with thirty-two facets. After the death of Charles the Bold in the battle of Nancy in 1477, the stone was stolen from his corpse on the fatal field by a marauder; however, there is too little evidence to say this with certainty. The diamond ended up in the possession of the Portuguese king Alfonso Africanus, who sold it to an unidentified person.

Louvre. Royal jewels are kept here, including the famous Regent and Sancy diamonds, as well as the 105-carat Cote de Bretagne ruby.

According to historical data, by the 1570s, Nicolas de Sancy, a French attorney in Constantinople, acquired it from a Turkish jeweler. Around 1605, Sancy sold the diamond on credit to the English King James I. It is believed that it was then that he acquired his current name. In a catalog of the Tower jewels compiled in 1605, the stone appears as “a magnificent diamond, cut, purchased from Sancy.” The diamond remained in England for half a century until the exiled Stuarts sold it for 25,000 pounds to Cardinal Mazarin, who bequeathed it to Louis XIV. The Bourbons had the stone at their disposal until the Great French Revolution. At this time, the royal treasury was plundered.

The further fate of the stone was shrouded in mystery until 1828, when it was purchased by Pavel Demidov for 80,000 pounds. In 1865, the Demidovs resold the diamond for £100,000 to the Indian Raja, who sold it to an unknown buyer the following year. In 1867, the Sancy diamond was first exhibited for public viewing at the World Exhibition in Paris. According to the price tag, its value was estimated by the owner at a million francs. After this, nothing was heard about the stone for forty years. In 1906, the Sancy diamond appeared in the collection of the American industrialist William Waldorf Astor. The illustrious Astor family remained in possession of the relic for 72 years, until the fourth Lord Astor sold the stone to the Louvre for one million dollars. This happened in 1978, and since then the famous diamond has been kept in the Apollo Gallery in the Louvre.

"Green Dresden"

A pear-shaped diamond with a natural apple green color. The only large (41 carats) example of a diamond of this variety. It owes its unique color to natural radioactivity. Since the 18th century it has been kept in the Dresden treasury of Grunes Gewölbe. A letter from a certain Baron Gautier has survived since 1726, which mentions a London merchant’s offer to sell a rare green diamond to the Saxon Elector Augustus the Strong for 30 thousand pounds. Naturalist Hans Sloan had a copy of the unique stone, indicating that the original was acquired by Londoner Marcus Moses in Golconda.

It is not known exactly when the stone came to Saxony. According to some reports, the stone was bought by the son of Augustus the Strong, Augustus III, at the Leipzig fair in 1742 through a Dutch intermediary for an amount estimated by historians at 400 thousand thalers. The price of a green almond-shaped stone was equal to the cost of building the entire Dresden Cathedral. One of the Saxon jewelers (possibly Dinglinger himself) placed a green diamond along with a Saxon white diamond in an agraph for the Elector's hat set. It is in this frame that the stone has survived to this day. After World War II, it, along with other Dresden treasures, was in the USSR until 1958. In 2006, it was exhibited in the Moscow Kremlin as part of the exhibition “Cabinet of Treasures of August the Strong.” Currently stored in Dresden.

"Hope"

Blue diamond weighing 45.52 carats. Perhaps the most famous of the New World diamonds. It is believed that it was obtained from a 115-carat blue diamond that Jean-Baptiste Tavernier brought to the Versailles court from India. He bought it somewhere near Golconda. It is believed that the Tavernier diamond was mined in the Collurian mines and at one time adorned the statue of the goddess Sita. After Tavernier sold his diamond to the royal jeweler, he made several smaller stones from it. One of them, which once adorned the ring of Empress Maria Feodorovna, is now kept in the Diamond Fund. The other had a weight of 69 carats and appeared in the inventories of the royal treasures as the “blue crown diamond” or “blue Frenchman”. Louis XIV is believed to have worn it around his neck set in a gold pendant, and under Louis XV it adorned the royal pendant of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

When the royal family came under house arrest with the outbreak of the revolution in 1792, thieves entered the palace and stole all the crown jewels, not excluding the blue diamond. Although the history of the stone according to documents ends here, there are many guesses about its further fate. According to one hypothesis, the theft was staged by Danton to bribe enemies of the revolution; according to another, the stone fell into the hands of the prince regent, and then went under the hammer to cover the debts of one of his favorites. The Hope Diamond is named after its first known owner, British aristocrat Henry Philip Hope, in whose possession it was first seen in documents dating back to 1839.

As a rarity in purity, weight and cut, it was exhibited at the world exhibitions of 1851 and 1855. in Paris and London. Even then, suspicion arose that the stone from the Hope collection was obtained from the recutting of the French crown blue diamond. Currently, this version has received scientific confirmation. At the end of the 19th century, the Hope Diamond was inherited by the Earls of Lincoln family. Its last British owner, Lord Pelham Clinton Hope, went bankrupt. Trying to satisfy creditors, the lord sold the diamond to a London jeweler. Having passed through the hands of several businessmen, the diamond was purchased in 1910 for the astronomical sum of 550 thousand francs by jeweler Pierre Cartier, who began to spread rumors about a curse associated with the stone.

Evelyn Walsh-McLean. A chain of 45 oval diamonds was attached to the frame - according to the jeweler’s idea, the Hope diamond could be worn as a necklace or as a bandeau head decoration.

After Cartier, the diamond was owned by Evelyn Walsh-McLean, the daughter of the owner of the Washington Post newspaper. To pay off her debts after Walsh-McLean’s death, the stone was sold to the jeweler Harry Winston, who became famous for organizing “diamond balls” in the United States and abroad. During these colorful shows, half of America learned about the diamond. Finally, in November 1958, Winston mailed it to the Smithsonian Institution as a gift. Since 1958 it has been in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.

"Kohinoor" (Kohinoor)

From Hindi - "Mountain of Light" - a 105 carat diamond and diamond, which is currently in the crown of Queen Elizabeth (Great Britain). One of the largest diamonds included in the British Crown Treasures (the largest is Cullinan I). Initially it had a slight yellow tint, but after recutting in 1852 it became pure white. It is kept behind armored glass in the Tower of London. The history of Kohinoor can be traced reliably from 1300. Legends tell about much earlier events associated with this stone.

According to Indian legend, a child was found on the banks of the Yamuna River; a beautiful diamond burned in his forehead; this was “Kohinoor”. The elephant driver's daughter picked up the newborn and brought him to the court. This child was none other than Karna, the son of the Sun God mentioned in the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata. The stone, whose net weight was then 600 carats, was installed on the statue of the god Shiva in the place of the third eye, which brings enlightenment.

According to other legends, the origin of the diamond is associated with the sons of Ala ad-din - Khizr Khan, Shihab-ud-din-Umar and Qutub-ud-din-Mubarak. After the death of their father, they decided to divide the entire territory into three parts and went on a journey through the domain. In the mountains they were caught in a downpour, and they took refuge from the weather in one of the caves. Entering inside, they saw that the cave was illuminated by an unusual light that came from a diamond lying on a granite stone. The brothers argued over who should own it and began to pray to the gods. Shiva heard Mubarak's prayer and fired lightning into the diamond, after which it split into three parts. Each of the fragments exceeded seven hundred carats. Khizr Khan took for himself the largest part, which he called “Derianur” - “sea of ​​light”. Umar named his stone “Kohinoor” - “mountain of light”, and Mubarak gave the name to his stone “Hindinur” - “light of India”.

After the brothers ascended the throne, misfortunes began in the country. Famine and epidemics claimed tens of thousands of lives. Mubarak sold his diamond to the Shah of Persia. With the money he received, he built a temple and installed a marble statue of Shiva three times tall at the entrance. But the misfortunes continued. And then Khizr Khan and Umar ordered the stonemasons to insert the Derianur and Kokhinur diamonds into the eye sockets of the statue. After which all disasters immediately stopped. Subsequently, “Derianur” and “Kohinur” were built into the throne of the Persian Shah, who attacked India and, among other trophies, captured these diamonds.

This diamond was first mentioned in chronicles in 1304. For several centuries, “Kohinoor” adorned the turban of rajas from the dynasty of the state of Malwa. Legend said that if the "Mountain of Light" ever fell from the Rajah's turban, the entire people of Malwa would become slaves. This is what happened in 1304, when Malwa was conquered by the Delhi Sultan Ala ad-Din. Among other captured treasures, “Kohinoor” also became the property of the winner. However, the diamond later returned to the rulers of Malwa. In 1526, India was invaded by the troops of Sultan Babur, a descendant of Tamerlane. In the decisive battle of Panipat, the Indian troops were defeated. In this battle, Raja Bikeramit was killed and his family captured. Trying to appease the winner, the rajah's wife gave away all the treasures, including the Kohinoor. The conquerors spared the Raja's family.

From then on, the Mughal rulers wore the Kohinoor on their turbans until it was placed in the famous Peacock Throne. People believed that as long as the diamond, as an indestructible emblem, shone over the throne of the great Mughals, the dynasty would continue. The Mughals kept the stone for two hundred years, until 1739, when the ruler of Persia, Nadir Shah, sacked Delhi. After the assassination of the Shah in 1747, his son, who inherited the stone, preferred, according to legend, to die under torture, but did not give up the legendary diamond.

Then “Kohinoor” changed owners many times, ended up in the hands of Afghans, Sikhs, and in 1849 it was kidnapped by the British who captured Lahore. The diamond was sent under strict security to London, where it was presented to Queen Victoria on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the East India Company. He appeared before the eyes of Her Majesty's subjects at the 1851 World Exhibition at the Crystal Palace. However, the stone did not create a sensation: due to its Indian cut, its shine was rather dull. In 1852, the diamond was recut in Amsterdam and acquired a flat shape. The weight of the stone during recutting decreased from 191 to 108.9 carats.

Coronation of the Queen Mother 1937. Nearby is her daughter - now Elizabeth II.

In 1853, the Kohinoor was set into the British Royal Crown as part of 2,000 smaller diamonds. In 1911, the diamond was transferred to the crown, which was made for Queen Mary's ascension to the throne. In 1937 it was again transferred to the new crown for the enthronement of Queen Elizabeth, where it currently resides.

The most beautiful stones that have inspired people to exploits and crimes since ancient times are diamonds. More precisely, their processed versions are diamonds. These jewels are rarely found in nature. Large specimens are so rare that humanity keeps their stories in its memory. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the top 5 most famous gems.

The Cullinan Diamond

This treasure was found on January 25, 1905 in the Transvaal province of South Africa. Its weight was 3106ct or 621.2 g. The crystal was distinguished by the complete absence of defects, cracks and mineral inclusions. The most striking thing is that it was part of another, larger sample, which, unfortunately, could not be found.

The South African miracle received its name in honor of Sir Thomas Cullinan, who owned the mine. The cost of the stone was so high that there were no buyers for it for several years. By today's standards, this unprocessed specimen would cost 94 tons of gold!

The first owner of this treasure was the British King Edward VII. However, the capricious monarch did not appreciate the scale of this natural miracle, calling it “a piece of glass.” He ordered the jewelers to make several smaller ones from it. After some time, the Cullinan turned into 2 large, 7 medium and 96 small diamonds of perfect clarity.

The largest of the stones is called the "Star of Africa" ​​or "Cullinan I" and adorns the top of the scepter of British monarchs. It has a pear-shaped cut and a size of 530.2ct, which allows this gift of nature to hold the world championship.

The Koh-i-Noor Diamond

The name of this multifaceted ideal is translated as “Mountain of Light.” In its uncut state it weighed over 800ct. South India is considered its homeland. The owner of this treasure was the founder of the Mughal dynasty himself.

The diamond occupied a central place on the ceremonial Peacock Throne of ruler Shah Jahan. This Indian prince became famous for building the luxurious Taj Mahal mausoleum for his beloved. At different times, the “Mountain of Light” was owned by: the Persian Shah Nadir, the founder of the Afghan royal Durrani dynasty, the Indian Raja Ranjit Singh and his descendants.

The “Mountain of Light” was presented as a gift to Queen Victoria, and after her death it took pride of place in the royal crown. In 1852 they decided to recut it. As a result of this procedure, the crystal lost 40% of its mass (from 191 to 108.9ct). In addition, it has become less interesting historically, having lost its original form.

Star of Yakutia Diamond

This crystal was found in 1973. Its mass is 232ct. Interestingly, in the English De Beers catalog it is listed under the name “50 Years of Aeroflot”. This name was given initially. However, the then Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Alexey Kosygin, insisted that he receive a more sonorous name.

Today, the “Star of Yakutia” is kept in the Kremlin’s Diamond Fund. Unlike other famous gems, this one cannot be cut. Therefore, everyone has the opportunity to admire the pristine “star” beauty.

Orlov (The Orlov Diamond)

"Orlov" was the pride of the Romanov dynasty. Its size is 189.62ct. The cut diamond crowns the scepter of the imperial house and has a rather mysterious past.

According to one version, he was kidnapped in 1747 from the throne of the Persian Shah Nadir. Another version claims that the jewel was found in the jungle on the ruins of an ancient Indian temple. This was the third eye of the statue of the god Brahma.

The diamond was brought to Russia by the Armenian merchant Lazarev in 1768. He sold it to Count Grigory Orlov for 400 thousand rubles. The imperial favorite presented the jewel to Catherine II. This is truly a gift worthy of a great woman!

The Pitt or Regent Diamond

It is believed that this crystal was found in 1701 in India, on the banks of the Kistina River. The uncut weight was 410ct. Legend has it that a slave who found the stone hid it in his wound. After that, he secretly made his way onto a ship bound for England and offered the captain half the price from the sale of the diamond. However, the cruel sea wolf decided otherwise: he threw the slave overboard and appropriated the booty for himself. The jewel was purchased by William Pitt, the commandant of Fort St. George in Madras. In honor of him, the stone received its second name. The new owner cut it and sold it to the French monarch. So the diamond passed to the regent of France, Philip II of Orleans. After that, it was owned by all the royals who occupied the throne.

During the French Revolution, all royal treasures were stolen. However, a year later government agents found and returned the jewelry. Napoleon decided to decorate his sword with “Regent” for the imperial coronation. Today this stone is on public display in the Louvre.

We have presented to you only the tip of the iceberg of famous jewelry. All large gemstones could tell exciting stories, filled with admiration and incredible adventures of their owners.

One of these is enough for a lifetime.

Diamonds (from Greek - "indestructible") are formed at a depth of about 200 km underground under enormous pressure and heat. They come to the surface during volcanic eruptions, or are mined in old volcanic zones. The diamond is between 990 million and 4.2 billion years old.

In the common consciousness, diamonds are associated with a luxurious lifestyle and jewelry. Although not all mined diamonds are used for jewelry purposes. Since the end of the 19th century, diamonds have been used in repair and construction work. In particular, diamonds became an element of the tool for cutting glass, concrete and marble. The new tools gave the name to the cutting technique - diamond cutting of concrete.

It should not be surprising that stone, from which magnificent jewelry can be made, has been used in construction. After all, not every mined diamond can be cut. Of all the diamonds mined in the world, gemstone diamonds make up only a small share. Only those stones that do not have any special flaws are considered jewelry, and diamonds with defects are not suitable for jewelry, they can only be used for industrial purposes. Jewelry diamonds are made into diamonds.

A diamond is a diamond that has been cut in such a way as to highlight the natural brilliance of the stone. To find out how perfect a diamond is, it is judged by the 4 Cs: carat, color, cut and clarity.

Several outstanding diamonds have gained worldwide fame due to their history. We will talk about them further.

1. Diamond "Great Mogul"

"Great Mogul" was named after Shah Jahan, the ruler of the Mughal Empire. He immortalized his name by building the Taj Mahal. The diamond was found in the Golconda diamond mines in the 1650s. Its weight of 787 carats allowed it to be considered the largest diamond in India.

The diamond was cut into a rose-shaped diamond with a bluish hue. But the stone was first lost during the war with Persia. After 1747, the "Great Mogul" disappeared and was never seen again. However, there is an opinion that the famous Orlov diamond was subsequently made from it. But this is not a fact.

2. Diamond "Cullinan"

The Cullinan I was the largest diamond in the world until the Golden Jubilee was discovered.

The diamond, also called the "Great Star of Africa", was found on January 26, 1905 in South Africa. It was named after the mine owner, Thomas Cullinan. The Cullinan was given to King Edward VII on his birthday. The cutting of the largest diamond was entrusted to the famous cutters, the Assker brothers from Amsterdam. Since the diamond had cracks, it could not be made into one large diamond.

The cutter Josef Asker spent several months preparing to make one single sure blow on the stone, which would split it along natural cracks. The excitement was so strong that after the ceremonial blow, Asker lost consciousness, but the diamond split into two halves.

The largest of the nine fragments received, the Cullinan I diamond, adorns the scepter of the British Queen, and can be seen in the Tower of London with the rest of the British crown jewels.

3. Diamond "Golden Jubilee"

The Golden Jubilee is the largest cut diamond in the world. The golden-brown diamond supplanted the Great Star of Africa and was discovered in 1980 at the Premier mine. For a long time it remained unnoticed, and it was given to the famous cutter Gabriel Tolkowsky to test new cutting tools.

Much to the surprise of many, the Golden Jubilee turned out to be a real treasure weighing 545.6 carats (755.5 carats before cutting).

The resulting diamond was blessed by Pope John Paul II, the Supreme Buddhist Patriarch and Grand Imam of Thailand. It was presented to the richest king in the world - the King of Thailand during his 50th birthday celebrations.

4. Diamond "Orlov"

"Orlov" is considered the largest diamond of the Moscow Kremlin Diamond Fund. The origin of the stone, which has the shape and proportions of half a hen's egg, dates back to the 18th century in southern India. Although part of the Orlov's history has been lost, it is believed that it once served as the eye of a statue in an Indian temple.

The stone was stolen by a Frenchman who converted to Hinduism and even became a novice in the temple to carry out his plan. As a result, the diamond was sold to Count Orlov, who presented it to Catherine II.

5. Diamond "Sancy"

The most famous owner of the Sancy diamond is King Henry III, who acquired the stone from his attorney Nicolas de Sancy. The stone served as a beret decoration to cover the king's premature baldness.

According to legend, the messenger who was supposed to deliver the stone was killed. However, the faithful servant kept the stone, which, after opening, was found in his stomach.

The diamond was sold to King James I of England and then to Cardinal Mazarin, who left it to King Louis XIV. During the French Revolution, it disappeared along with the Regent Diamond and the Hope Diamond.

As a result, "Sancy" was sold to the Louvre for a million francs, and is still kept there. Its price has not been established, but it is considered priceless.

6. Diamond "Kohinoor"

The Kohinoor diamond or "Mountain of Light" has a long history. The first mention of it appeared in 1304, when King Babur discovered a diamond, and since then it passed to all the rulers of the Mughal Empire - a state in the modern territory of India and Pakistan.

Hindus, Mughals, Persians, Afghans, Sikhs and the British fought desperately for the right to possess it throughout history. Almost all owners of Kohinoor suffered an evil fate: death, poisoning, betrayal. From the once huge stone of 793 carats, 105 carats (21.6 grams) remain.

In 1850, the diamond was given to Britain's Queen Victoria, who wore it as a brooch for a long time. The famous Kohinoor was worn by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary and is now in Queen Elizabeth's crown at the Tower of London. Its price has not been established, but it is considered priceless.

7. Hope Diamond

Perhaps the most famous diamond in the world is the Hope Diamond. No one knows how large the stone was before it was cut, where it was found, or who shaped it into its original shape. It was first mentioned by the French merchant Jean-Baptiste and sold to King Louis XIV.

Some experts believe that it was stolen from a statue of the ancient Indian goddess Sita. It passed to King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, then was stolen and reappeared in 1829. Banker Henry Hope purchased the diamond and the stone is named after him.

The subsequent numerous owners of "Hope" suffered unfortunate fates: violent death, illness, loss of a child and accidents. The Doomstone gained the reputation of being cursed, and it was believed that everyone who touched it would die a terrible death.

Since 1958, the diamond has been in the Smithsonian Institution in the USA. Its price is $350 million.

8. Regent's Diamond

The Regent Diamond, also known as the Queen of Hearts, was found in 1698 by a slave in a mine who eventually paid for it with his life. The captain who found the hidden diamond killed a slave and sold the 410-carat stone to an Indian trader and then to British businessman Thomas Peet in 1701. It was reduced to 141 carats.

The Regent Diamond is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It is white, but with a subtle bluish tint that not everyone sees. The diamond became the adornment of Marie Antoinette, Napoleon, King Louis XVIII, Charles X and Napoleon III. Now it is in the famous Louvre Museum.

9. Diamond "Millennium Star"

The Millennium Star is the 10th largest and 2nd largest D color diamond. Before cutting it weighed 777 carats, and after - 203 carats. A majestic diamond without external or internal flaws was of exceptional purity.

The stone was purchased by De Beers. It took more than 3 years to give the diamond its classic pear-shaped shape using lasers. The Millennium Star, along with 11 blue diamonds, was mined from the Premier mine in South Africa. In 2000, these amazing diamonds from the Millennium collection were presented at an exhibition in London.

10. Diamond Taylor-Barton

The 241-carat diamond, from which the famous diamond was later made, was found in the Premier mine in South Africa. The famous jeweler Harry Winston cut the stone, which became pear-shaped and weighed 69.42 carats. The stone of amazing transparency and beauty became the first diamond sold at auction for more than a million dollars.

Its buyer was Richard Burton, who bought it for his wife, the famous actress Elizabeth Taylor. Elizabeth could wear such a treasure only a few times a year under the protection of guards, and the first time she appeared with it was at the celebration of Princess Grace's birthday in Monaco.

When the actress divorced Barton, she sold the diamond for $5 million and used the proceeds to build a hospital in Botswana. It is believed that this is the first time that a diamond brought anything other than misfortune.

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We know that diamonds are the kings of stones. Some of them are known throughout the world for their uniqueness or the legends associated with them. They have been admired and influenced by their mystical beauty for centuries. We offer you an overview of “the most famous diamonds in the world”

Such famous diamonds as “Cullinan”, “Regent”, “Shah”, “Black Orlov”, “Eureka” will be etched in the history of mankind for centuries, because they carry not only aesthetic value, but also historical value, confirming the richness of the earth’s subsoil . Many diamonds are fraught with a mystical secret, an unsolved riddle. Because of these stones, people died, entire states were destroyed, and betrayals were committed. Man has always tried to control the world, and power without jewelry is nothing. So these world-famous stones passed from hand to hand, leaving a noticeable mark on the life of their owner. Today we can only admire their immediate beauty and unusually intricate history.

"Cullinan" is one of the largest and most famous diamonds

The largest and most famous diamond ever found is still considered the “Cullinan”. 101 years ago, on January 25, 1905, in the British colony of Transvaal (now a province in South Africa), the largest diamond in the history of mankind, a stone of “the purest water”, was found "weighed 3106 carats (621.2 g) and had dimensions of 100 x 65 x 50 mm.

During an evening walk, the mine manager, Frederick Wells, noticed a point on the wall of the quarry sparkling in the rays of the setting sun. The point was 9 meters from the top edge of the quarry. Soon, the mine workers recovered a diamond measuring 100 x 65 x 50 mm. Later it turned out that the diamond was a fragment of a larger crystal, which, unfortunately, was never found.

The wonder was shown to everyone at a bank in Johannesburg. The price of the diamond was so high that for several years there was no buyer for it. There were even offers to chip in to buy a stone - a shilling from each resident. However, another use was found for the precious find: after the Boer War, the rulers of the Transvaal Republic, as a sign of reconciliation, decided to present an expensive gift to the King of England, Edward VII. In 1907, the diamond was bought for 150 thousand pounds sterling and presented to the king for his birthday.

It should be noted that even at the prices of those years, the cost of the find was at least 8 million pounds. Today, the value of a rough diamond would be equal to the value of 94 tons of gold. Before transporting the stone to England, it was insured, a special ship was rented with a safe cabin and an entire army of vigilant guards. However, if clever robbers did steal the cargo, it would plunge them into shock: after all, a dummy of the Cullinan would fall into their hands. While the real stone arrived in England in a regular postal parcel.

The new owner did not appreciate the gift at first, calling it “glass.” In 1908, it was decided to break the Cullinan diamond into pieces and cut it, for which the stone was sent to the Asskor brothers, famous jewelers from Amsterdam. Before breaking the stone into pieces, Josef Asskor studied it for almost six months. But even having determined the point of application of the first blow, he himself did not dare to take this blow, entrusting the matter to the student. At the moment of delivering the decisive blow, Josef Asskor fainted from excitement. But the calculation turned out to be correct. Upon completion of all the work, almost 4 years later, two large, seven medium and ninety-six small diamonds of extraordinary purity saw the light of day.

The largest piece of the diamond was cut into a pear shape (530.2 carats) and was called the “Star of Africa”, or “Cullinan-I”.

Today it is the most famous and largest diamond- it adorns the top of the royal scepter of Great Britain.

The second fragment took on the shape of an “emerald”; it weighs 317.4 carats, is named “Cullinan II” and adorns the British crown...

From the parts of the diamond remaining after processing the first two diamonds, two more large diamonds were cut: “Cullinan-III”, 94.4 carats, and “Cullinan-IV”, 63.65 carats, and smaller diamonds were called “Small Stars”. Africa."

Cullinan V, also a very famous diamond

Now a little more than 34% remains of 3106 carats - 1063.65 carats. It is unknown whether such losses are explained by imperfect technology or hidden defects in the stone.

Damn "Black Orlov"

Its origin and steel-gray color remain a mystery. Some suggest that it was previously a 195-carat Eye of Brahma stone set into a statue in the Pondicherry area. Others believe that this diamond was kept in a casket by the Russian princess Nadezhda Orlova. Meanwhile, a princess with that name never existed. Moreover, a black diamond has never been mentioned in India, where the color is considered an omen of evil. Finally, the square step cut of the stone appeared no earlier than a hundred years ago!

Wherever the Black Orlov, which currently weighs 67.50 carats, came from, New York jeweler Winston displayed it as a curiosity and then set it, along with other diamonds, in a platinum necklace that has been used many times. from hand to hand. It was last sold at Sotheby's in New York.

The mystically beautiful black diamond "Orlov" has a dark past. It is shrouded in secrets and rumors, and “Orlov” itself has a bad reputation as a cursed stone, but at the same time it illuminates the creative path of the best jewelers. And, of course, there are always people willing to pay big money for it.

"Koh-i-noor" ("Koh-I-Noor")

This famous diamond can rightfully be called "historical". Its history goes back not one hundred or two hundred years, but twenty centuries (56 BC). According to Indian legend, a child was found on the banks of the Yamuna River; a beautiful diamond burned in his forehead; this was “Koh-i-Noor”. The elephant driver's daughter picked up the newborn and brought him to the court. This child was none other than Karna, the son of the Sun God. The stone, whose net weight was then 600 carats, was installed on the statue of the god Shiva in the place of the third eye, which brings enlightenment.

This diamond was first mentioned in chronicles in 1304. It then belonged to the Raja of Malwa. Then, for two centuries, nothing was known about the stone. It was only in 1526 that it was discovered among the treasures of Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty. The Mughals kept the stone for two hundred years, until 1739, when the ruler of Persia, Nadir Shah, sacked Delhi. However, the legendary diamond was not among the spoils of war: the defeated Shah hid it in the folds of his turban. But Nadir Shah turned out to be more cunning. According to custom, the winner organized a magnificent feast in honor of the enemy, at which former enemies exchanged their turbans as a sign of peace. Thanks to this ploy, Nadir Shah made the most of his triumph. After the assassination of the Shah in 1747, his son, who inherited the stone, preferred, according to legend, to die under torture, but did not give up the legendary diamond.

Then “Koh-i-Nor” changed owners many times, ended up in the hands of Afghans, Sikhs, and in 1849 it was kidnapped by the British who captured Lahore. The diamond, under the strictest security, was sent aboard the Medea to London, where it was presented to Queen Victoria on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the East India Company. He appeared before the eyes of Her Majesty's subjects at the 1851 World Exhibition at the Crystal Palace. However, the stone did not create a sensation: due to its Indian cut, its shine was rather dull. The Queen summoned the famous diamond cutter Voorzanger from the Koster company from Amsterdam and ordered him to cut the “mountain of light.” This cut, which reduced the weight of the diamond from 186 to 108.93 carats, brought him unfading worldwide fame.

Now "Kohinoor" is inserted into the Royal State Crown.

"Eureka" - the diamond that brings war

Some famous diamonds brought death to their owners, while others became real talismans that protected against all sorts of troubles and misfortunes. But few stones can boast that they started a real war, because of which thousands of people died. The most interesting thing is that the weight of this diamond is very small - before processing it weighed 21.25 carats, and after - only 10.73. And it’s not even the story of its discovery that is surprising, but the revolution the crystal called “Eureka” made in the world.

A guy named Erasmus Jacobs lived with his family near the Orange River, on the De Kalk farm, near the town of Hopetown. Looking for a stick on the river bank to clear a drain. The young man noticed a shiny pebble among the pebbles. Which was so beautiful that the boy took it to the farm and gave it to his sister Louise.

As it turned out later, near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange rivers, in a mountainous region called Western Griqualand, diamonds were found very often. But most of them were small and had a yellowish tint, which reduced their price. However, this did not stop all seekers of adventure and easy money from rushing here at breakneck speed. Of course, the British could not ignore these lands and tried to forcibly annex the Boer lands to their colonies. The Boers finally gathered their strength and, raising an uprising, expelled the invaders from the country, but the British retained Western Griqualand.

England declared war under the plausible pretext of violation of human rights by the Boers themselves, and, having assembled an army of half a million against 80 thousand Boers, waited for the first blow. Having turned to the arbitrator and not receiving an answer, the Boers inflicted it themselves. The difficult war cost the Boers 4,000 killed on the battlefields, 26,000 old men, women and children who died of starvation and behind barbed wire, and 20,000 wounded. On May 31, 1902, peace was signed in Vereeniging, depriving this freedom-loving people of independence. And at that moment no one thought that this whole war began because of a small stone called “Eureka”.

"Regent" The Bloodiest Gem

Regent (“Pitt”), one of the famous historical stones, the largest (weight 136.75 carats) of the diamonds stored in the Louvre. Found in the Golconda mines in India in 1700 by a Hindu slave who cut his thigh and hid the stone in the wound under a bandage. An English sailor promised a slave freedom for a diamond, but after luring him onto the ship, he took the stone and killed him.

He sold the diamond for 1,000 pounds sterling to the English governor of Fort St. George Pitt, whose name the stone was called until 1717, when the Duke of Orleans, regent of France, bought the stone for Louis XV for 3,375 thousand francs.

In 1792, during the looting of the royal palace, the stone disappeared, but was later found. The Republican government of France pledged the diamond to the wealthy Moscow merchant Treskoff; It was bought by General Bonaparte (Napoleon I), who ordered it to be inserted into the hilt of his sword. In 1886, during the sale of treasures of the French crown, the Regent was bought for 6 million francs for the Louvre Museum.

"Shah"

One of the famous historical stones, a diamond (weight 88 carats), is kept in the Diamond Fund of Russia in Moscow. The stone is engraved with inscriptions in Persian telling about its previous owners: in 1591 the diamond belonged to Burhan Nizam Shah II of the Mughal dynasty, in 1641 to Jahan Shah, in 1824 to Shah Qajar Fath Ali, ruler of Persia. The diamond is not cut, but only polished; part of the natural faces of the octahedron has been preserved. Its shape is elongated, with a deep circular groove cut at one end for hanging the stone.

The stone hung over the Mughal throne for a long time as a talisman. In 1829, after the defeat of the Russian embassy in Tehran and the murder of the poet and diplomat A. S. Griboyedov, a delegation led by the son of the Shah Khosrow-Mirza was sent to St. Petersburg. Among the “redemptive gifts”, Nicholas I was presented with an ancient diamond on behalf of the Shah.

The famous Orlov stone

The Orlov Diamond, presented by Grigory Orlov to Empress Catherine II as a sign of his ardent love for her in 1775. The diamond is known from the time when it was inserted into the eye of the Idol that adorned the Brahma Palace in India, and was later given to Shah Nadir.

The Orlov diamond has a slightly bluish-green tint. It adorns the imperial scepter and measures 32mmX35mmX31mm. According to legend, when the Russians expected Napoleon to capture Moscow in 1812, the diamond was hidden in the grave of a priest. However, Napoleon deliberately sought out the place where the diamond was hidden, and when he reached for it, the ghost of a priest appeared from the grave, casting spells at Napoleon's army. Thus, Napoleon escaped without touching the diamond. The diamond is kept in the Kremlin's diamond fund.

The Mystery of the Hope Diamond

The Hope Diamond is one of the most famous historical diamonds. It is currently kept at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Washington, USA). The weight of this blue diamond is 45.52 carats. Geometric dimensions of the stone: 25.60 x 21.78 x 12.00 mm. Diamond cut into a pillow shape.

The Hope Diamond is surrounded by the largest number of “sinister” secrets and has a “bad” reputation. It is also called “Tavernier Blue”, “Blue Diamond of the French Crown”, “French Blue”, “Blue Frenchman”, “Blue Hope”...

The history of the famous Hope Diamond begins in the mid-17th century, when the famous French merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier acquired a large blue diamond weighing 112 3/16 carats (about 115 carats in modern metric). This stone was clumsily cut and shaped like a triangle. Experts agree that the diamond was most likely mined at the Kollur mine in Golconda (India).

In 1668, Tavernier sold this stone to King Louis XIV of France. In 1673, the court jeweler recut it into a 67-carat diamond (about 69 carats in modern metric).

At that time, no one had yet thought about the curse of God hanging over the owners of the diamond. But for the first time they started talking about it after this stone “brought with it” the plague. A terrible disease overtook Europe just after the appearance of an unusual crystal, so the clergy dubbed the stone cursed. The first “victim” of the diamond is considered to be Tavernier himself, who was torn to pieces by dogs on one of his regular trips.

The king's favorite soon fell out of favor, and the diamond returned to Louis XIV. Once again, while dancing at a ball, the “Sun King” stepped on a rusty nail and died of gangrene. After his death, the diamond passed to Marie Antoinette. The beautiful diamond interested Princess Lamballe and the queen gave it to her to wear. After the diamond returned to its owner, the princess was killed. And after some time, Marie Antoinette was beheaded.

Passing from hand to hand and depriving people of their lives, the stone was finally bought by the Irish banker and collector Hope, in whose honor it received its name.

Sultan Abdul Hamid II, who bought the Hope diamond for his wife, after some time lost his beloved wife, who fell into the hands of rapists and murderers. And later the Sultan himself lost his life in exile, after he was overthrown from the throne by his subjects. The next owner of the stone was the Russian prince Korytkovsky (in another version Kandovitsky), who presented the diamond to the Parisian dancer Ledu. However, the curse overtook them too, when after some time the prince shot his mistress in a fit of jealousy, and he himself fell victim to an assassination attempt. The Spaniard who later owned the blood diamond drowned. Just like the married couple in the movie Titanic.

In the end, “Hope” went to Evelyn Walsh McLean, a Washington socialite who first dedicated a stone in the church, which did not protect her loved ones from misfortune. The husband became an alcoholic and ended his days in a mental hospital, the first son was hit by a car in early childhood, and the daughter committed suicide by swallowing pills. And after the death of her grandmother, who bequeathed her jewelry to her grandchildren, her beloved granddaughter died at the age of 25.

The cursed diamond was sold to the cynical and non-superstitious jewelry dealer Harry Winston. Why the curse did not touch him is still a matter of debate. Maybe because he didn’t believe in it, or maybe because by putting the diamond on public display he was collecting money for charity? But Harry didn’t take the risk for long, so he sent the diamond by mail. This is how one of the most famous and “bloody” diamonds ended up in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, thus parting with all its owners. What you consider the history of this stone to be - a beautiful legend, a fatal curse or a chain of coincidences - is up to you, but at the moment few people want to own this diamond.

The Hope Diamond is considered the largest blue diamond in the world. It was he who first showed people that blue diamonds can, under certain conditions, become red-red, like a flame.

A puzzle that has plagued scientists for years is why a diamond continues to glow red for several seconds after the stone is illuminated with ultraviolet light (photo by John Nels Hatleberg).

Diamond Golden Jubilee (gold brown)

Discovered in 1986 in South Africa, this diamond, which was originally called the Unnamed Brown, weighed 755.5 carats. Because of its golden brown color, the diamond had a brilliant and magical aura about its heart.

This is a child of South Africa and one of the most famous creations of Gabi Tolkowsky, who cut the stone. For a very long time, the brown-yellow diamond was called Unnamed Brown. But in 1997, the stone was purchased as a gift to the Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the 50th “golden” anniversary of the monarch’s reign. It was then that the stone finally got its name. The price of the diamond is unknown.

"Incomparable" Incomparable Diamond

This diamond, called “The Incomparable,” was found in the early 1980s in the Congo. The weight of the diamond is 890 carats. The Incomparable Diamond is exhibited at the Royal Ontario Museum (Canada). It is the third largest diamond ever cut in the world. The weight of this diamond, after cutting, is 407.08 carats. The noble golden-yellow color and large mass of the stone have long secured its title as one of the rarest diamonds in the world.

Diamond The Centenary

The Centenary Diamond was discovered on July 17, 1986 in the Premier mine, South Africa. The rough weight of the stone was 599.1 carats. The discovery was announced during the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the world's most famous diamond mining company, De Beers. Jeweler Gabi Tolkowski spent almost three years processing the diamond. The result was amazing: “Centenary” is a diamond of perfectly clear water and impeccable polishing. It weighs 273.85 carats. In May 1991, the jewel was insured for more than $100 million. The Centenary is preserved in the Tower of London and is part of the British Crown Jewels.

Which one do you like? Choose!

"Cullinan" (or "Star of Africa") is the largest diamond in the world. Its weight was 3106.75 carats (621.35 grams), dimensions 100x65x50 mm. The diamond was found by accident on January 25, 1905 in South Africa in the Premier Mine and, apparently, was a fragment of a very large crystal, which was never found. On November 9, 1907, the government of the Transvaal Colony presented the Cullinan Diamond to the English King Edward VII on his birthday. The king entrusted its cutting to the famous Dutch company I.J Asscher diamond company. Several months were spent studying the huge diamond, and in 1908 it was split into several large pieces, from which 9 large and 96 small pure blue-white diamonds were eventually made; one part of 69.5 carats was left unprocessed. The total mass of diamonds produced was 1,063.65 carats.

The best cutter in Europe, Joseph Asscher, founder of the I.J Asscher diamond company, worked on cutting the largest diamond. He knew how, as the grinders say, to “open” the stone. To do this, it was necessary to find a point on the surface of the diamond, after grinding it, you can look inside the diamond and determine the direction of one single blow, which allows you to dismember the stone along existing cracks and get rid of foreign inclusions in it. The largest diamond, the Cullinan, had cracks, so it could not be made into one giant diamond. Josef Ascher studied the unique diamond for several months before making a barely noticeable scratch on it. After this, in the presence of several famous jewelers, in the midst of solemn silence, Asher put a chisel to a scratch on the diamond, hit it with a hammer and lost consciousness. But the calculation turned out to be correct. Having regained consciousness, Asher repeated this operation several more times on the fragments of the Cullinan diamond that had arisen from the first blow.

"Cullinan-I" or "Big Star of Africa" ​​- 530.2 carats. Transparent, colorless. Has 74 edges. Drop-shaped (pandelok). Decorates the scepter of the English King Edward VII. Kept in the Tower, London. If "Cullinan I" were removed from the scepter, it could be worn as a brooch.

“Cullinan II” or “Second Star of Africa” - (317.4 carats), located in the crown of the British Empire under the “Black Prince” ruby. Kept in the Tower, London. It can also be used as a brooch along with the Cullinan I.

Our Light is a clear, colorless, gem-quality diamond discovered by the Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corporation at the Karowe mine in north-central Botswana. The mass of the found diamond is 1109 carats (221.8 g). Diamond dimensions - 65×56×40 mm. The diamond was discovered on November 16, 2015. The diamond found is the second largest in history. The stone received its name based on the results of a national competition. Translated from the Tswana language it means “Our light. The diamond was put up for sale at Sotheby's on June 29, 2016, but it failed to sell. The maximum proposed amount, $61 million, was less than the minimum expected ($70 million).

Excelsior is a diamond found on June 30, 1893 at the Jachersfontein mine, in what is now South Africa. It weighed 971 ¾ carats (194.2 grams) and was the largest diamond found until it was surpassed by the Cullinan, found in 1905. "Excelsior" had excellent qualities and had a bluish-white tint. The stone was cut by the Amsterdam company I.J Asscher diamond company (now Royal Asscher Diamond Company) in 1904, resulting in 21 stones, the largest of which weighed 70 carats. The stones were later sold individually. The weight of all cut stones equal to 373.75 metric carats; the loss in mass was 62.44%.

"CONSTELLATION" is an 813-carat diamond discovered by the Canadian company Lucara Diamond Corporation in Botswana. The company announced the discovery on November 19, 2015. Lucara sold the Constellation diamond for $63 million, a record amount ever paid for a rough diamond.

The Great Mogul is the largest diamond found in India. Discovered in 1650 in the Golconda diamond mines and originally weighed 787 carats. Its cutting was entrusted to the Venetian Hortensio Borghis. According to Tavernier, the 279-carat diamond made by Borgis was shaped like a rose, with a tiny spot visible on the inside and another flaw underneath. After the assassination of Nadir Shah in 1747, traces of the diamond are lost. It is possible that the later famous “Kokhinur” or “Orlov” stones were obtained from it.

The Woye River is the ninth largest diamond in the world (after the Cullinan, the Our Light diamond weighing 1,111 carats, found in 2015, the Excelsior, the Star of Sierra Leone, the Great Mogul, etc.) . This gem is also called the “Victory Diamond” because it was found in West Africa in 1945, the year of the victory over Nazi Germany. The original weight of the Woye River diamond is 770 carats. The diamond was split into 30 diamonds, the largest of which weighed 31.35 carats.

Lesotho's Promise is a clear, colorless, gem-quality diamond discovered on August 22, 2006 at the Letseng mine, located in the northern part of the Kingdom of Lesotho. The mass of the newly found diamond was 603 carats (121 g). At the time of discovery, it was the largest diamond found in the 21st century. Gem Diamonds sold the find at an auction held on October 9, 2006 in Antwerp, Belgium, for US$12.4 million. The buyer was the South African division of Graff Diamonds. The diamond was divided into 26 pieces of various sizes, which were then cut. The weight of the largest diamond obtained was 75 carats (15.0 g), and the smallest was 0.55 carats (110 mg). The total weight of the resulting diamonds is 224 carats (44.8 g).

“Orlov” is the largest and most famous of the seven historical precious stones of the Diamond Fund, which has adorned the Imperial scepter of Catherine the Great since 1784. Diamond was found in India at the end of the 17th century - beginning of the 18th century. According to the information received, the diamond “lost weight” during cutting. This white diamond with a faint greenish tint was originally estimated at 400 carats, but after being cut into a diamond, its weight was greatly reduced and is estimated at 189.62 carats. This is one of the few diamonds that retains its original Indian cut. Like other 18th-century jewels, the Orlov's early history is associated with an Indian temple. The most popular legend is that around 1750 he was taken to Madras from a temple in Seringapatam by a British soldier posing as a Hindu. It is more likely that the Orlov was obtained by recutting the Great Mogul diamond described by Tavernier, most likely taken by Nadir Shah to Persia in 1739. The stone was purchased in Amsterdam from a Persian merchant for 400 thousand florins by the court jeweler Ivan Lazarev (according to some reports, he was married to the seller’s niece). Then it was bought from Lazarev by Count G. G. Orlov and in 1773 he presented it to Catherine II on her name day instead of a bouquet of flowers in the vain hope of returning her lost favor. The news of this gift spread throughout Europe, since none of the European monarchs had a diamond of this size.

“XXVI Congress” (332 ct) - found in Yakutia in 1980, stored in the Diamond Fund of the Moscow Kremlin.

The Shah Diamond is a diamond of Indian origin weighing 88.7 carats, which is stored in the Diamond Fund in Moscow. One of the greatest treasures of the Persian Shahs. It was given, among other gifts, to the Russian Emperor Nicholas I by the ruler of Persia, Feth Ali Shah, after the mass murder of Russian embassy employees, including the ambassador, the famous writer A. S. Griboedov, took place in Tehran in January 1829. An immaculately transparent, light yellowish-brown stone. The deep groove on it indicates that it was worn as a talisman. It is believed that the stone was found in the Golconda mines in the 16th century, before they were abandoned. According to Tavernier's description, in 1665, “the diamond was suspended from the Mughal throne and hung so that the one sitting on the throne could constantly see it in front of him.” The diamond clearly shows three engraved names of its owners and the corresponding dates in the Muslim calendar, based on the lunar year ( the dates in brackets are given in the usual chronology): Nizam Shah, 1000 (1591); Shah Jahan, 1051 (1641); Feth Ali Shah, 1242 (1826).