When it comes to diamonds, the term “fair” scarcely does them justice. A single, flawless diamond is capable of bringing a human to their knees with its beauty. And when you consider that most people will never lay eyes on one in person, the crushing force of their allure is only intensified. As the second hardest naturally occurring substance on earth, diamonds have been treasured by humans for millennia as a symbol of love and fidelity. It’s no surprise that they have been used as an engagement ring as well as an ancient form of money, but they have also played a more macabre role in history too. In this article we’ll take you through the fascinating history of twelve iconic diamonds including the Light of Africa and Cullinan gems among many others.
Christie’s has announced that it will sell a D-color, flawless, Type IIa emerald-cut diamond weighing 103.49 carats for $11 million to $18 million when it goes on the market on May 30. The diamond was cut from a piece of rough unearthed by Petra Diamonds at the storied Cullinan diamond mine in January 2021. The miner said the stone was the third-largest high-quality white diamond to be recovered at Cullinan since Petra acquired its stake in 2008. Petra sold the diamond to Dubai-based Stargems for $12.18 million in March 2021. The Light of Africa was created as a result of the cutting of this diamond. It traces its source to Cullinan, a renowned mine in South Africa that has produced some of the world’s most significant diamonds in history, including the Great Star of Africa and the Second Star of Africa. It will be showcased at Christie’s Geneva from May 6 to 11 and travel to Christie’s Hong Kong from May 22 to 24 before being sold at Christie’s in New York City on June 19.
Introduction to Diamonds
Given that they are one of the most beautiful gemstones, it’s perhaps no surprise that diamonds have been treasured by humans for millennia. In the ancient world, they were revered as the “mud of the earth” and served as a form of basic currency. While some of the earliest known diamond mines were discovered in India, and diamonds were most likely discovered in Ethiopia as well, the first diamonds were discovered in South Africa in the mid-1600s. The first known diamond ever mined was the Koh-i-Noor or “Mountain of Light” which is now the largest known flawless Fancy, Fancy Fancy, Fancy Deep and Flawless diamond in the world. The Koh-i-Noor was mined in India and became part of the Imperial Indian Crown in the late 1800s, but was removed from the crown in 1903 when the British crown was redesigned. In 1929, the Koh-i-Noor was returned to the Indian crown after pressure from the British crown and the American gemological society.
The Koh-i-Noor or Mountain of Light
The Koh-i-Noor is the world’s largest and most famous diamond. It is so widely known that it is commonly referred to as the “Mountain of Light” in reference to the mountain cut which produces a rainbow halo around the diamond when held in sunlight. The Mountain of Light is currently part of the Imperial Indian Crown, but was removed from the crown in 1903 when the British crown was redesigned. The Mountain of Light was originally mined in India and became part of the Imperial Indian Crown in the late 1800s, but was removed from the crown in 1903 when the British crown was redesigned. In 1929, the Mountain of Light was returned to the Indian crown after pressure from the British crown and the American gemological society.
The Pink Star of Harlem
The Pink Star is an exceptionally rare pink diamond which is the most vivid pink color ever seen in a diamond. It’s also the only pink diamond in the world to feature a star cut. The Pink Star was donated to the Smithsonian in 1991 and has since been exhibited in the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. The Pink Star of Harlem belongs to the Pink Star series of pink diamonds, which are some of the rarest pink diamonds in the world. This particular Pink Star was discovered in 1980 in the Republic of Botswana in the central district of Palapeli. Almost all pink diamonds are found in the country, which makes them extremely rare. The Pink Star of Harlem’s color is the result of a very high concentration of pink nitrogen molecules that give it the color.
The Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond is one of the most renowned and valuable diamonds in history. It is the world’s largest Fancy vivid blue diamond and is currently part of the British Crown Jewels. The Hope was discovered in India and is one of the world’s most famous diamonds. The Hope Diamond was originally called the Cartier Diamond. It was discovered by Antoine Fallieres, a French diamond trader, in India in 1866. The Hope Diamond was a part of the French Crown Jewels until it was purchased by American industrialist, Charles Lewis Tiffany in 1874 for $300,000. It was then part of the American Crown Jewels until 1921 when it was returned to the French Crown Jewels after France had surrendered during World War I.
The Black Heart of Nizam ul Mulk (NMM) Diamond
The Black Heart of Nizam ul Mulk (NMM) Diamond is the world’s second-largest diamond. It is a vivid deep blue Ceylor-type diamond and is the largest Ceylor-type diamond in the world. The Black Heart of Nizam ul Mulk (NMM) Diamond was mined in the Republic of South Africa and is currently part of the British Crown Jewels. The Black Heart of Nizam ul Mulk (NMM) Diamond belongs to the Nizam-ul-Mulk series of Ceylor-type diamonds, which are some of the rarest Ceylor-type diamonds in the world. The Black Heart of Nizam ul Mulk (NMM) Diamond was mined in the Republic of South Africa and is currently part of the British Crown Jewels.
Bibi Jawan, the Pearl from the Sea of Pearls
The Bibi Jawan diamond is the world’s third-largest diamond. It is a vivid pink cushion-shaped diamond and is the second-largest cushion-shaped pink diamond in the world. The Bibi Jawan diamond was mined in the Republic of South Africa and is currently part of the British Crown Jewels. The Bibi Jawan diamond belongs to the Bibi-Jawan series of cushion-shaped diamonds, which are some of the rarest cushion-shaped diamonds in the world. The Bibi Jawan diamond was mined in the Republic of South Africa and is currently part of the British Crown Jewels.
The Star of India and the Blue Heart of Bengal
The Star of India diamond is the world’s fourth-largest diamond. It is a vivid blue cushion-shaped diamond and is the second-largest cushion-shaped blue diamond in the world. The Star of India diamond was mined in the Republic of South Africa and is currently part of the British Crown Jewels. The Star of India diamond belongs to the Star of India series of cushion-shaped diamonds, which are some of the rarest cushion-shaped diamonds in the world. The Star of India diamond was mined in the Republic of South Africa and is currently part of the British Crown Jewels.
The Great Mogul’s Ruby and the French Blue Paradise
The Great Mogul’s Ruby is the world’s fifth-largest diamond. It is a vivid vivid red fancy VVS1-colored diamond and is the single largest fancy vivid red diamond in the world. The Great Mogul’s Ruby was mined in the Republic of South Africa and is currently part of the British Crown Jewels. The French Blue Paradise is a colorless diamond which is the world’s sixth-largest diamond. It is a vivid fancy colorless diamond and is the second-largest fancy colorless diamond in the world. The French Blue Paradise was mined in the Republic of South Africa and is currently part of the British Crown Jewels.
The Imperial Russian Emerald and the French Blue Paradise
The Imperial Russian Emerald is the world’s seventh-largest diamond. It is a vivid vivid green fancy VVS1-colored diamond and is the single largest fancy vivid green diamond in the world. The Imperial Russian Emerald was mined in South Africa and is currently part of the French Crown Jewels. The French Blue Paradise is a colorless diamond which is the world’s eighth-largest diamond. It is a vivid fancy colorless diamond and is the second largest fancy colorless diamond in the world. The French Blue Paradise was mined in the Republic of South Africa and is currently part of the British Crown Jewels.
Conclusion
The history of diamonds is long and fascinating, and their allure has only strengthened with the passage of time. Although they are hard to come by, they remain one of the most beautiful gems in the world, and they can serve as a symbol of love and devotion for generations to come.
