Editor’s Note
This article highlights the upcoming auction of the “Golconda Blue,” a historic diamond poised to set records. Its exceptional rarity and estimated value of $35-50 million underscore its significance in the world of high jewelry.
The Golconda Blue, the largest Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ever offered at auction, is one of the rarest and most significant diamonds ever discovered. It will be the star of Christie’s “Magnificent Jewels” auction, to be held live on May 14, 2025, at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva, with an estimated value of $35-50 million.
This exceptional pear-shaped Golconda diamond captivates with its origin, tracing its roots to Indian royalty. Yeshwant Rao Holkar, Maharaja of Indore and a member of the Holkar dynasty, was known along with his wife for their elegant and cosmopolitan lifestyle in the 1920s and 30s. In 1923, during a visit to Chaumet, she commissioned a diamond bracelet set with her pear-shaped 23-carat blue Golconda diamond.
In 1946, Mr. Winston purchased the Indore Pearls from the Maharaja, and the following year, in January 1947, he acquired this 23-carat blue diamond. Winston had it set, along with a matching 23-carat white diamond, into a brooch which he sold to the Maharaja of Baroda. The brooch was later repurchased by Mr. Winston and resold as a redesigned piece to its current owner. Now, over a century later, this legendary blue diamond is being offered at auction for the first time, set in a stunning modern ring by the famous Parisian designer JAR.
The legacy of Golconda diamonds begins with a mention in a 4th-century Sanskrit manuscript. In 327 BC, Alexander the Great brought diamonds from India to Europe, igniting a lasting fascination in the West for these rare gems. In 1292 AD, Marco Polo described the captivating beauty of Indian diamonds in his travel accounts. Today, the Golconda Blue is not only a natural wonder but also a historical jewel whose provenance spans continents, dynasties, and centuries.