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FAMOUS
DIAMONDS
Famous
diamonds often have complex and even controversial histories because
of the secrecy surrounding such stones
The
Star of Africa
At
530.20 carats the Cullinan I or Star Africa diamond is the largest
cut diamond in the world. Pear-shaped, with 74 facets, it is
set in the Royal Scepter (kept with the other Crown Jewels in the
Tower of London). It was cut from the 3,106-carat Cullian, the largest
diamond crystal ever found. The Cullian was discovered in Transvaal,
South Africa in l095 on an inspection tour of the Premier Mine. The
Cullian was cut by Joseph Asscher and Company of Amsterdam, who examined
the enormous crystal for around six months before determining
how to divide it. It eventually yielded nine major, and 96 smaller
brilliant-cut stones. When the Cullian was first discovered, certain
signs suggested that it may have been part of a much larger
crystal. But no discovery of the "missing half" has ever
been authenticated.
The
Excelsior
Probably
the second largest stone ever found (if the lost Braganza cannot be
found and authenticated). A high-clarity, blue-white stone, it was
found in l893 by a South African mine worker who picked it out
of a shovelful of gravel. Because of its irregular shape, it was cut
into 21 polished stones, of which the largest was a marquise of 69.80
carats. A smaller, 18-carat marquise stone cut from the Excelsior
was displayed a the l939 World's Fair by De Beers.
The
Great Mogul
The
world's third largest gem-quality diamond was named after Shah Jehan
who built the Taj Mahal. It was found in the mid-seventeenth century
in Hyderabad, India. It's whereabouts are not presently known,
and it may no longer exist as a single large stone e. It has been
confused with several other famous diamonds, most importantly the
Orloff, which has also been described as a faintly blue rose-cut
stone. It is said that the stone was so badly cut that the lapidary,
instead of being paid by the Shah, was forced to pay a heavy fine.
When Tavernier so the Mogul, he described it as looking like an egg,
and weighing 280 old carats.
The
Darya-i-Nur
The
Darya-i-Nur is a flawless, transparent pink stone, estimated
at 175 to 195 carats. It is the largest and most remarkable gem in
the Crown Jewels of Iran, and was one of the spoils of Persia's attack
on Delhi in l739. It is now set in a gold frame with other diamonds,
topped by a crown bearing lions with ruby eyes, holding scimitars.
It was worn by the last Shah for his coronation in l967.
The
Koh-i-Nur
The
name of this diamond means; Mountain of Light" and its history,
dating back to1304, is the longest of all famous diamonds. It was
captured by the Rajahs of Malwa in the sixteenth century by the Mogul,
Sultan Babur and remained in the possession of later Mogul emperors.
It may have been set in the famous Peacock Throne made for Shah Jehan.
After the break-up of the Persian empire the diamond found its
way to India. It may have traveled to Afgahnistan with a bodyguard
of Nadir Shah, who fled with the stone when the Shah was murdered,
to be later offered to Ranjit Singh of the Punjab in exchange
for military help (which was never delivered). After fighting broke
out between the Sikhs and the British, The East India Company claimed
the diamond as a partial indemnity, and then presented it to
Queen Victoria in 1850. When the stone came from India, it weighed
l986 carats; it was later recut to l08.93 carats. It was first worn
by the Queen in a brooch. It was later set in the State Crown,
worn by Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary, and 1937 was worn for by Queen
Elizabeth for her coronation. It is kept in the Tower of London, with
the other Crown Jewels.
The
Hope
The
ironically named Hope diamond (named for its purchaser, Henry Thomas
Hope) may have had a long and illustrious history before it
became associated with a run of bad luck for its owners. It is thought
to be a part of the famous Blue Tavernier Diamond, brought to Europe
from India in l642. The Blue was purchased by King Louis XIV
who had it cut to 67.50 carats from 112 carats to bring out its brilliance.
The diamond was stolen during the French Revolution, and a smaller
diamond of similar color was sold in l830 to Hope, an English
banker. After inheriting the diamond, Hope's son lost his fortune.
It was eventually acquired by an American widow, Mrs. Edward McLean,
whose family the had suffered a series of catastrophes: her only child
was accidentally killed, the family broke up, Mrs. McLean lost
her money, and then committed suicide. When Harry Winston, the New
York diamond merchant, bought the stone in l949, many clients refused
to touch the stone. It is now on display at the Smithosonian
Institute in Washington.
Diamond Magic
Diamonds
were once believed to hold many magical, mystical and medicinal properties.
The phosphorescence of certain diamonds (their ability to glow in
the dark) was considered a proof of the stone's extraordinary
powers. Diamonds were thought to calm the mentally ill, and to ward
off devils, phantoms and even nightmares. They were supposed to impart
virtue, generosity and courage in battle, and to cause lawsuits to
be determined in the wearer's favor. A house or garden touched
at each corner with a diamond was supposed to be protected from lightning,
storms and blight.
The
ancient Indians believed the the human soul could pass through various
incarnations, animating gemstones as well as plants and animals. And
Plato, the Greek philosopher, shared the belief that gems were living
beings, produced by a chemical reaction to vivifying astral spirits.
Later philosophers divided talisman into male and female specimens,
and even claimed that they could marry; and reproduce!
Minerals
were among the first medicinal ingredients. In the middle ages it
was believed that a diamond could heal if the sick person took
it bed and warmed it with his body, of breathed upon it while fasting
or wore it next to the skin. A diamond held in the mouth would correct
the bad habits of liars and scolds. And diamonds were worn as
a talisman against poisoning.
Diamond
powder administered internally, however, was a legendary poison. The
Turkish Sultan Bajazet (1447 - 1513) was perhaps murdered by his son,
who slipped a large quantity of powdered diamond in his father's
food. In l532, his doctors dosed Pope Clement VII with fourteen spoonfuls
of pulverized gems, including diamond, which resulted in death for
the patient, as well as a very high bill for his treatment.
In the same century, Catherine de Medici was famous for dealing out
death by diamond powder, and Benvenuto Cellini, the famous s Italian
goldsmith, described an attempt on his life by an enemy who
ordered diamond powder to be mixed in his salad. But the lapidary
responsible for grinding the diamond filched the stone, replacing
it with powdered glass (thereby saving Cellini).
The association
of diamonds with poison may have been promoted to discourage the practice
of stealing diamonds by swallowing them, particularly during mining.
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