Editor’s Note
A rare 23.2-carat ‘Golconda Blue’ diamond from Hyderabad is set for auction in Geneva on May 14, with an estimated value of up to ₹430 crore (approx. $35-50 million). The gem carries a storied history linked to the royal families of Indore and Baroda.
Hyderabad’s rare 23.2-carat ‘Golconda Blue’ diamond will be auctioned in Geneva on May 14. It is expected to fetch up to 430 crore rupees (approximately 35 to 50 million US dollars). This diamond is linked to the royal families of Indore and Baroda.
With its royal heritage, exceptional color, and extraordinary size, ‘The Golconda Blue’ is truly one of the world’s rarest blue diamonds. Its history is also remarkable.
According to Rahul Kadakia, an official at Christie’s, the auction for The Golconda Blue will be held on May 14. This diamond, set in a contemporary ring by the famous Parisian designer JAR, is expected to sell for 35 to 50 million US dollars, roughly 300-430 crore rupees. This diamond was once in the possession of the royal families of Indore and Baroda.
Historian Javed Mansoor explains that the history of the Golconda Blue diamond is linked to a 4th-century Sanskrit manuscript. By 1292 AD, Marco Polo had described the beauty of Indian diamonds in his travel writings. The diamond’s roots are connected to the famous Golconda mines in present-day Telangana, renowned for producing some of the world’s most famous diamonds, including the Koh-i-Noor and the Hope Diamond. What makes this stone particularly attractive to Indian collectors and history enthusiasts is its splendid connection to Indian royalty.
This stone was once part of the precious collection of Maharaja Yashwant Rao Holkar II of Indore, one of the most stylish and forward-thinking Indian rulers of the 20th century. It was originally set in a bracelet by the French jeweler Chaumet in 1923.