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| Oldest diamond in the world, briolette in.pinterest.com |
Man's quest for wealth and fame is limitless and there is no end on the horizon. So was the quest for expensive sparkling diamonds, particularly of India centuries ago. India's Kollur mines (now defunct) in the alluvial deposit of Krishna river near Vijayawada (once under the Golconda rulers) produced a vast number of exceptional quality diamond in the middle ages.
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After Europeans, especially the English landed in India and having found many of the dazzling Indian gems were priceless and rare, one by one was taken to Europe through gift (from Indian royalty who acquired them first) or looting or through purchase at rock-bottom price. Most the royals and aristocrats in England and other countries in Europe, enamoured by their luster and brilliance, developed fascination for Indian diamonds and possessed them with pride. Apart from being a symbol of status for women, and an expression of love for courting men, diamond was also a charm, a mark of goodluck.
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The Briolette of India, a colorless diamond - 90.38 carats, cut in a Briolette shape dating back to 12th century, made its journey to Europe through the hands of Indian royalty. First acquired by Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Queen consort of King Louis VII of France between 1137 and 1152, then it was considered the oldest diamond on record in the world, still older than the well-known Koh-i-Noor diamond.
Eleanor's marriage to the King of France having been dissolved, she married Henry II of England, to whom she bore eight children including Richard I of England (Richard the Lion heart) who is said to have later acquired the diamond. Modern sources speculate that King Richard I carried the Briolette of India with him when he took part in the 3rd crusade to recapture Jerusalem. He fell sick and was captured by the Duke of Austria and held in captivity for two years.
After his demise, the diamond was taken away from Diana and in and in 1910 jewelry traders Cartier, bought the Diamond and made a brooch combining some pearls and emeralds and sold it to to the New York branch of Cartier. In 1911, Cartier's sold it to (American financier) George Blumenthal, who presented it to his wife, Florence Meyer Blumenthal.
In 1950, Harry Winston got Briolette of India and sold it to Canada’s Dorothy J. Killam. Again repossessed it on display at a 1970 Harry Winston dinner before being sold to a European buyer. The Australian owner of the Heidi Horten passed away in 2022 and Briolette of India was up for sale by Christie's in June 2023
The rich and famous were after this diamonds for some reasons:
01. It is the oldest diamond in the world, older tham world famous Koh-i-Noor diamond looted by East india company from Maharajah Ranjit Singhji of undivided Punjab; this diamond dated back to the 12th century.
02. Rare briolette cut and chemically pure, a colorless D-color type of diamond.
03. Structurally pure with no traces of cleavages or micro cracks
04. Impurity is less than 2% . Only superior diamonds can achieve this kind of purity that will improve reflection from the cut stone.
05. It is not a cursed diamond like black orlov or Nassak diamonds stolen from Hindu temple of India.
https://indepthwithdebbie.com/famous-diamonds-the-briolette-of-india/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briolette_of_India
https://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/brioletteofindiadiamond.html
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