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The Blue Heart (or Eugénie Blue)
Some reports refer to this unusual diamond as the
"Eugenie Blue", although it is now recognized that there
is no evidence that the Empress ever owned it. The Blue
Heart weighs 30.82 carats and has a rare, deep blue
color. The Parisian firm Atanik Ekyanan of Neuilly cut
it into a heart shape in 1909 or 1910, and this date
raises the issue of whether the rough stone came from
Africa or from India. In 1910 Cartier purchased the
diamond and sold it to an Argentinean woman named Mrs.
Unzue. At the time, it was set in a lily-of-the-valley
corsage and remained so until Van Cleef & Arpels bought
the gem in 1953. They exhibited it set in a pendant to a
necklace valued at $300,000 and sold it to a European
titled family. In 1959 Harry Winston acquired the gem,
selling it five years later, mounted in a ring, to
Marjorie Merriweather Post. Mrs. Post donated the Blue
Heart to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.,
where it remains to this day.
According to the "Natural
Color Diamond Encyclopaedia":
More about World's Famous Diamonds
Passion. Murder. Insanity. Intrigue. Envy. A mere hint of
the fascinating stories behind the world's most remarkable diamonds. Many have
been associated with famous names - the likes of Napoleon … Sultan Babur … Lady
Astor … Shah Jehan … Queen Victoria … Catherine the Great … Elizabeth Taylor.
Others have inspired awe and legend on account of their size, origins or unique
qualities. Since nearly the dawn of time, diamonds have encrusted the armor of
great warriors,...
Read more...
World's Largest Diamonds
The largest faceted diamond in the world is the Golden
Jubilee, weighing 545.67 carats. It is a Fancy Brownish-Yellow color and
"fire rose cushion cut." It is unusual also because it has a certain
type of rare color banding. The second largest faceted diamond in the
world is the Star of Africa, also known as the Cullinan I. It weighs
530.20 carats and is a pear shape with 74 facets
Read more...
World's Famous Diamond Mines
The
oldest and most famous diamond mine in North America is
the Crater of Diamonds which is just south of
Murfreesboro, Arkansas. In 1906, diamonds were found
after John Wesley Huddleston bought the land to farm.
He noticed two small stones in the bottom of the bucket
of cattle feed. The stones were sent to Little
Rock jeweler who sent them to Tiffany's in New York and,...
World's Renowned Diamond Cutting Centers
Diamonds being easily transportable and being of high
value allows them to be moved to the most efficient and
economic locations for further processing. The several
factors that are considered in determining the location
of a diamond cutting facility...
Diamonds and De Beers - The Story of the
Diamond Cartel
When a gang of thieves with a
stolen bulldozer plowed into London's Millennium Dome in
November 2000 to steal a 203-carat diamond from a
display sponsored by De Beers, Nicky Oppenheimer, De
Beers's chairman, hailed the botched heist as wonderful
publicity:
"If only we could do this once every six
months. We could do away with the advertising department altogether."
For more than 100 years, the name De Beers has
evoked all glamour and mystery radiated by a diamond. Through shrewd
marketing and careful manipulation of the market, the South African
company has parlayed these pieces of crystallized carbon into
multi-billion-dollar-a-year business empire. De Beers has truly a family
affair. Built around the twin pillars of De Beers Consolidated Mines
Ltd. and Angelo American Corporation of South Africa, the Oppenheimer
dynasty controls most of the world's diamond mining and trade and is one
of the biggest multi-nationals. They are the world's leading diamond
producers...
Read more...
Did You Know? -
Interesting Diamond Facts
Even before science was able to fully analyze the
properties of this gemstone, ancient people recognized
it for its rarity and incredible toughness. For
thousands of years people have recognized that the
properties of this rare mineral are exceptional. By
reviewing diamond facts one can understand why this gem
is so valued and so common for use in jewelry,
decoration, and everywhere else to symbolize longevity
and wealth. Extensive diamond mining first began in
India. Read about many interesting diamond facts like
the 2 below and many more.
- Extensive diamond mining first
began in India.
- Over 75% of the mined diamonds go to industry
each year, with such applications from
windows to phonograph needles and just 25% are of
gem quality.
Read more...
Spotting a Fake Diamond
In this world of advanced technology it is almost
impossible to simply look at a diamond and determine
whether it is real or not especially if you don’t know
much about diamonds. There are some steps that you can
take to avoid buying a fake diamond, however...
What is Diamond Grading Report?
A diamond grading report will
commonly include a plotted diagram of your diamond and
significant characteristics, including the 4Cs (cut,
color, clarity and carat weight). The report will also
describe the diamond’s shape, exact measurements,
proportions and depth percentages as well as grade the
polish and symmetry. It should also comment on the
characteristics like fluorescence, raining, and any
imperfections in the diamond. Please note: a grading
report does not include an appraisal or any kind of
statement of monetary worth of the diamond. Grading
reports simply state the scientific facts of your
diamond that can be evaluated by highly standardized
criteria
Read more...
Learn about Diamond History, Diamond Trade, Buying Tips and more...
The Romans believed that diamonds brought
courage and bravery during battle. Jewish high priests used diamonds to
decide the innocence or guilt of the accused: A stone held before a
guilty person dulled and darkened; a stone held before an innocent
person glowed with increased brilliance. The Hindus believed that this
brilliant gem was created when....
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Information Summary...
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Famous Diamonds - The Black Orlov
