Legendary Diamonds

In 1988, De Beers, at hundred years after its foundation, discovered through its sophisticated equipment, a voluminous mass, internal walls of his mine (the Premier Mine in South Africa, near Pretoria) and announced so l' occurred extraction of a diamond of 599 carats!
The gem, from the very irregular shape, was entrusted to one of the most famous cutter man, Gabi Tolkowsky, that, after three years of study, decided to cut the gem manually, according to the ancient method of cleavage, to avoid that a more modern method could irreparably damage the stone
At completed cutting, was born the modern cut diamond, the largest in the world, weighing 273 carats, D color, IF clarity!
It was named the Centenary in honor of the celebration of the centenary of the founding of De Beers.nary in honor of the celebration of the centenary of the founding of De Beers.

Still in the mine Premier Mine .... In the late afternoon of 26 January 1905, the attention of Frederik Wells - superintendent of the mine - was drawn to something that reflected the last rays of the sun from the steep wall of the mine ..... 3.106 carat diamond!

And the legend has just begun ... On 10 February 1908, Sir Asscher, after many months of study, did penetrate the special steel blade along the cleavage plane of the stone, after a sharp blow, inflicted with a heavy iron rod.
He continued the proceedings to obtain nine large buds, ninety-six smaller, and nine and a half carats of rough stones. The most popular gems: the "Cullinan I", also called "Star of Africa", in the form of a drop of 530.20 carats and set in the Scepter of St. Edward.

The "Cullinan II", cushion-shaped, of 317.40 carats and set in the Imperial Crown.

The "Cullinan II", cushion-shaped, of 317.40 carats and set in the Imperial Crown.

Its intense blue color, makes it a gem of exceptional beauty and uniqueness, and even with its current 44.50 carats (about 112 of the original), not part of the short list of the largest diamond in the world, but it enter fully title in the list of items that ... do not bring luck ....! The legend says that it was disincastonato (around 1688), from the eye of an Indian idol, whose divinity unleashed his anger cursing the gem and all those who had owned. The story tells of a long trail of deadly events, to start by the author of the sacrilege, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, followed by Louis XV and Marie Antoinette, and although over time has undergone several changes in shape, size and name (he was in 1830 that the banker Hope baptized him with his last name), his tragic influence has not spared none of its owners. The last owner, the jeweler Henry Winston in 1958 (to avoid to see for themselves the veracity of the curse), has donated the diamond to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, where he is still exposed

This gem with special pink color and weight of 20 carat, is currently on display at the Louvre Museum, along with the "Regent", after having been part of the French Crown Jewels.
Purchased by Louis XIV, it's name was given later and is not due to the color but at the fact that it was dedicated to Hortense Beauharnais, Queen Consort of the King of Holland , daughter of Josephine and Napoleon's stepdaughter.

"Mountain of Light "is the literal translation of the name of this extraordinary diamond, almost 109 carats, whose history is known since 1304, when it was the peacock eye of the throne of the Rajah of Malwa.
This diamond has a "supernatural powers", like that of giving happiness and good fortune to the woman who wore it, and bad luck to the man who dared to own it. After belonging to several Indian and Pakistani sovereign, now is part of the Crown Jewels and is kept in the Tower of London 

Found in about 1700, in the diamond mining of Golconda(central-south India), weighed 410 carats which were reduced to 140.50 when it was cut in the shape of the pillow.
The diamond was called "Regent" in 1717 when it was bought by Duke Philip II of Orleans, regent of France.
Since then it was part of the crown jewels of France.
After being embedded in the hilt of the sword of Napoleon, was sold to private individuals. Today it is kept at the Louvre Museum

..Once again the generous Premier Mine mine gave birth to a gem of incredible brightness and beauty. Sixty-nine carat teardrop shaped that have transformed the legend in a fairy tale when Richard Burton gave it to Elizabeth Taylor.
It was later auctioned and the proceeds were donated for the construction of a hospital in Botswana. The last known price goes back to 1979, when it was re-purchased for $ 3 million.