Fame: The most coveted diamonds in the world
If you're a jewelry hoarder, fashion enthusiast or simply admire the craftsmanship of an excellent diamond cut, then you should definitely familiarize yourself with the most famous diamonds around the world. These stunners have a lot of history and culture behind their designs - and who could overlook the impressive carat weight and clarity of these beautiful pieces of art? Here are the top four most coveted diamonds in the world and where you'll have to travel if you want to see these stones in person:
The Orloff - Moscow
The original weight of the Orloff diamond is estimated to be 300 carats. The diamond originated in India has a slightly bluish green tint and an exceptionally pure diamond clarity rating. The stone was presented to Empress Catherine of Russia by the Russian Count Grigori Orloff as a token of his love to her highness, which is how the stone got it's name. Catherine had the stone mounted into a royal scepter of the czars - Today, the Orloff is on display in the Diamond Treasury in Moscow, Russia.
The Regent - Paris
Discovered in 1701 by an Indian slave, the Regent diamond once held the title for the highest carat weight in the world. The exquisite cut is why some still refer to the diamond as the most beautiful stone in the world. The stone was used to decorate both Louis XV's and Louis XVI's crowns and was later mounted on the hilt of the First Consuls Sword in 1801. The Regent was later moved to the coronation crown worn by Charles X before it was used in the Grecian Diadem of Empress Eugenie. The 140.5 carat diamond was stolen twice and carried into Amsterdam - both times the stone was recovered and returned to France. The Regent is located and available for viewing at the Louvre in Paris.
The Cullinan Diamond - London
This celebrated stone is the largest diamond ever mined! When the Cullinan diamond was originally dug up in South Africa, the stone weighed in at 3,106 metric carats. The stone is named after Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the mining company that discovered the diamond. However, it was Joseph Asscher of from the I.J. Asscher firm in Amsterdam who spent eight months working on the stone after the rough diamond was presented to King James VII. After splitting the diamond, Asscher divided the stone into nine principled stones, 96 small brilliants and nine carats of unpolished fragments. The largest remnant of the Cullinan diamond rests in the Royal Scepter. This particular piece of the original Cullinan diamond is referred to as the Great Star of Africa. The scepter stone weighs in at 530.2 carats, making it the largest diamond in existence today. The scepter is part of the Crown Jewels collection, which is housed in the Tower of London.
Koh-i-Noor - London
The oldest diamond to date is the Koh-i-Noor, or Mountain of Light. The 105.6 carat diamond was mined in 1306 in India. The diamond came into the possession of the British Royals as part of the Treaty of Lahore in 1849. In 1850, the diamond was cut down and mounted into the crown, which Queen Victoria, Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary would wear at their coronations. In 1937 the stone was set in the Maltese cross of the Queen Mother's crown, where it currently resides today. The crown was taken out of the Tower of London in 2002 and set atop the Queen Mother's coffin, where she lay in state at Westminster Abbey. The stone has since been returned and kept on display as part of the Crown Jewels collection in London.
