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Trail Of Famous Diamonds

THE PRINCIE DIAMOND


The Princie Diamond is an extraordinary 34.65 carat Fancy Intense Pink cushion-cut diamond. This historic diamond’s origin can be traced back to the ancient diamond mines of Golconda in South Central India and was first recorded in the holdings of the Royal family of Hyderabad, rulers of one of the wealthiest provinces of the Mughal Empire.

The Princie Diamond
The Princie Diamond (A historic cushion-cut fancy intense pink diamond, weighing approximately 34.65 carats)
World's Largest Fancy Intense Pink Diamond Ever to be Offered for Sale at Christie's Auction House

First offered at auction in 1960 as “Property of a Gentleman” (later revealed to be the Nizam of Hyderabad himself) the diamond was purchased by the London branch of Van Cleef & Arpels for £46,000. The diamond’s unique name was bestowed at a party at the firm’s Paris store, where it was christened the “Princie” in honor of the 14-year-old Prince of Baroda, who attended the party with his mother Maharani Sita Devi. This is the first time in more than fifty years that this special diamond has appeared at auction, marking an unprecedented opportunity for collectors of the world’s finest gemstones.

François Curiel, Chairman of Christie’s Jewelry Department, commented, “One of the largest and finest pink diamonds in the world, the Princie Diamond carries a fabulous provenance, which brings together the legendary names of Golconda, Nizam of Hyderabad, and the Maharani Sita Devi of Baroda. This rich history, combined with its rare pink hue, conveys a special charm, which will speak to all collectors in the world seeking the best of the best in gemstones.”

With report 5111433470 dated 25 November 2009 from the Gemological Institute of America stating that the diamond is fancy intense pink, natural color, VS2 clarity

Accompanied by a supplemental letter from the Gemological Institute of America stating that the diamond has been determined to be a Type IIa diamond. Type IIa diamonds are the most chemically pure type of diamond and often have exceptional optical transparency. Type IIa diamonds were first identified as originating from India (particularly from the Golconda region) but have since been recovered in all major diamond-producing regions of the world. Among famous gem diamonds, the 530.20 carat Cullinan and the 105.60 carat Koh-i-noor are examples of Type IIa.

Accompanied by a hardbound monograph from the Gemological Institute of America, featuring additional photography, data collection charts and gemological research, attesting to the rarity and prestige of the Princie diamond.


The Wittelsbach Blue Diamond: Out of the Blue, Prestige and Riches


EVERY diamond is a story as old as the earth and will outlast us all. Diamonds are, indeed, forever, but they are not forever in view.


For more than a half-century, the whereabouts of one of the world’s most celebrated diamonds, the fabled Wittelsbach blue, was obscure. Every person with knowledge of great gems was likely to be familiar with the stone: A grayish blue diamond taken to Europe in the 17th century from India, it was given in 1664 to the Infanta Margarita Teresa by her father, the king of Spain, eventually becoming a fixture of both the Austrian and Bavarian crown jewels. In 1964 the stone passed into private hands, and afterward its whereabouts had been a mystery.

Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/fashion/07DIAMONDS.html?_r=0

View Slide Show: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/01/06/fashion/20100107-DIAMOND-slideshow_2.html

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