Famous diamonds & some of their history

Regent

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This great stone, originally a diamond rough of 410 carats, was said to be discovered in 1701 by an Indian slave near Golconda.

Golconda was a mountain fortress and a center for trading in India that included a diamond storehouse.

The diamond was first owned by William Pitt, the Prime Minister of England, but the circumstances surrounding his acquisition of the gem have been called into question several times.

Pitt arranged for the stone to be cut into its current cushion-shaped brilliant of 140.50 carats by the only person in England considered capable of the task, which took two years. The result was a stunning gem that is considered the most perfectly cut of all the celebrated diamonds of old.

The Regent is characteristic of the finest Indian diamonds, and has a beautiful light blue tinge.

The diamond was sold to the Duke of Orleans, Regent of France, who was at first hesitant to purchase the gem because of the perilous state of the Treasury. Ultimately, the Duke of Orleans relented, and shortly thereafter, the stone was renamed "The Regent."

Later, it was set in the coronation crown of King Louis XV, and later in a headband worn by his Queen. Many of the French Crown Jewels were reset numerous times at the behest of the queen. Sadly, in September 1792, the Regent and other great diamonds in the Crown Jewel collection were stolen, some disappearing forever.

Fortunately, the Regent reappeared in a Paris attic a year later. After coming to power in 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the diamond set in his sword hilt, which he carried at his coronation two years later.

Today, the Regent can be admired at the Louvre in Paris.

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