A brief history of famous diamonds
A brief history of famous diamonds
JAKARTA (JP): Diamonds are now part of the romantic lives of
young lovers all around the world.
But in the past, owning great gems was the right of the
rulers, kings and queens that had the wealth and power to buy or
seize precious jewels.
The entire concept of diamond ownership changed dramatically
in the l800s with the rise of democracy, salaries to pay, the
Industrial Revolution and huge diamond discoveries in Africa.
Great capitalist barons and other wealthy commoners gradually
replaced many of the world's royals as buyers of expensive gems
and jewelry.
In the 20th century, buyers from Asian and Middle Eastern
countries started to become potential diamond buyers as the
regions began to progress economically.
According to New York gem dealer Ralph Esmerian, most buyers
come from wealthy Asian and Middle Eastern families. "They buy
gems because they love them and diamonds become a part of their
lifestyle. Then there is a snobbery of showing you can afford the
best."
This does not mean that royalty are not buying jewelry. When
fabulous stones enter the market, the more likely buyers are
newly rich industrialists or museums. In modern times, the best-
known gem buyer and collector is Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of
Brunei. But more and more great gems are going into public
collections as mentioned by famous gemologist Fred Ward in his
book Diamonds. Among the great gems are:
* The Hope Diamond (45.52 carats), once belonging to British
banker Henry Thomas Hope and one of the world's most famous and
storied gems. It came to Washington's Smithsonian Institution in
l959 as a gift to the American people from legendary New York
dealer Harry Winston.
* Marie Antoinette's earrings and necklace, both also
displayed at the Smithsonian Institution.
* The spectacular pink rectangular table-shaped Dari-i-Nur
(Sea of light), estimated at 185 carats. Today it is part of the
Crown Jewels of Iran. A number of Persian rulers wore it in
public in the 1800s as did the last Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlevi,
who donned the Dari-i-Nur as a cap decoration along with 3,380
diamonds during his 1967 coronation.
* "Koh-i-noor," or Mountain of Light, was previously owned by
India's Rajah of Malwa. It was seized by the British East India
company and presented to Queen Victoria in l850. Disappointed by
its lack of fire, the queen ordered it recut to a brighter but
smaller 108.93 carat centerpiece, which adorned the crowns of
subsequent British queens. The Queen Mother still enjoys it on
state occasions as the premier jewel in her 1937 coronation
crown. (raw)