ROMANCE OF DIAMONDS

Shannon News, 8 June 1928, Page 4

ROMANCE OF DIAMONDS

MANY FAMOUS GEMS.

The oleicst historical diamond known was worn by Charles the Bold m>e pendant sot with three large rubies and four pearls. It was stolen by > a soldier, and later was sold to Jacob Fugger for 47,000 florins. The jewel was then sold to Henry VIIL, and eventually came into the possessiofa of Philip Of Spain. I The "Great Mogul," first seen in India, is said to have weighed 700 carats in the rough, but-when \ cut dt jjWcigkcd 280 carats. Aurungzebe,'to whom it belonged, was so enraged at this that he fined his jeweller 10,000 rupees. It is believed that this .great jewel was taken to Delhi by Nadir I Shah and is still -among the jewels. The Koh-i-noor left India ;at the same time, but later belonged to Bunjeet Singh. It then passed to, the East India Company, who presented it. to Queen Victoria in 1850.

In a Brahmin temple the eye of mn idol was a diamond. A French .soldier stole it, and eventually it reached Amsterdam. This jewel became *known as the Orloff Diamond. Prince Orion" bought it for Catherine Jd. of Russia, and it was set in the top of jthe Imperial Sceptre. It weighed 195 carats. The liegent or Pitt Diamond was bought by Governor Pitt from the Pariial Mines for £20,400, and was later bought by the French Regent for £BO,OOO. It was stolen, but was recovered in 1792 and still. belongs to Pi ancc.

The Cullinan diamond, ;found in -a riyer in South Africa in 1905, . 3025 carats and is 4in. long. This'fine jewel was presented to King' lEdward.