The most famous (and valuable!) diamond jewellery pieces in the world are mostly in royal collections, but some are in private hands or in museum collections where they can be viewed by the public. These remarkable items not only illustrate the magnificence of diamonds and the truly incredibly jewellery made to house them, but each one also has a story that reminds us of the exotic and tempestuous history of the diamond trade.
The great Koh-I-Noor, for example, was found in the early 14th Century and originally graced the magnificent diamond jewellery collection of an Indian Rajah. When India was added to the British Empire, the Koh-I-Noor was taken to London, recut, and placed in the Queen’s Crown Jewels. At 186 carats, this is truly massive diamond, taken as a prize of conquest at the height of the British Empire’s power.
On the other hand, diamonds can also be symbols of true grace and generosity. The Cartier or Taylor-Burton diamond is without doubt one of the greatest in the world. It was found in 1966 in southern Africa and given to Elizabeth Taylor by the actor Richard Burton, weighing more than 60 carats after cutting. Far from ending its days as piece of jewellery in a case, this stone was later sold to raise funds for hospital in Botswana, not far from where it was mined.
The history of diamonds is a rich and varied one, but one thing has stayed constant – the appreciation of these beautiful stones and their outstanding value.
