Editor’s Note
A legendary blue diamond from India’s storied Golconda mines is poised for a new owner. This piece explores the journey of the ‘Golconda Blue’ and the history it carries into its next chapter.
Once the pride of a necklace, then a brooch jewel, now a sparkling star in a ring… A famous diamond from India’s Golconda mines is embarking on a new chapter. The buyer of this diamond will not only embrace its beauty but also link their name with its history.
A precious gem from India’s royal history is back in the spotlight. The Golconda Blue, a rare and brilliant blue diamond, is set to capture the world’s attention. This 23.24-carat blue diamond, originating from India’s historic diamond mines, has been set into a beautiful ring by the renowned Parisian jeweler JAR. It is scheduled to be sold at Christie’s ‘Magnificent Jewels’ auction in Geneva on May 14th. Its estimated price is between 300 to 430 crore rupees.
The Golconda Blue’s roots are linked to the famous Golconda mines in Telangana. This is the same diamond mine that produced world-famous diamonds like the Koh-i-Noor and the Hope Diamond. The journey of this blue diamond began with India’s royal families.
Maharaja Yashwant Rao Holkar II of Indore was an extremely stylish and progressive ruler. This rare diamond was part of his collection. In 1923, the French jeweler Chaumet set this diamond into a bracelet. Later, in the 1930s, the Maharaja’s jeweler, Mauboussin, incorporated it into a magnificent necklace. This necklace also included two other famous Golconda diamonds from Indore – the ‘Indore Pears’. This necklace can be seen in a portrait of the Maharani of Indore, showcasing the splendor of Indian royalty and India’s opulent history at that time. Remarkably, even after nearly 100 years, the diamond’s shape has remained unchanged.
In 1947, the famous jeweler Harry Winston purchased this diamond. Harry Winston brought it to America and transformed it into a brooch. Years later, this diamond returned to India once again. Here, it was purchased by members of the Baroda royal family.
This diamond reached America through a jeweler. The famous jeweler Harry Winston bought it and transformed it into a brooch, where it was paired with a white diamond. Later, it returned to India and became part of the Baroda royal family. Subsequently, this blue diamond passed into private hands.
Golconda diamonds are famous for their clear brilliance and quality, and its story makes India’s history even more special.
This diamond is a center of attraction because of its color. Chemistry is behind its color. In fact, blue diamonds contain boron. The special thing is that they are electrical conductors, allowing electricity to pass through easily. The more boron present, the deeper the blue color of this diamond. This diamond’s color is a fancy deep blue. It is the deepest blue found naturally.
The Golconda Blue is the largest diamond in this auction, but the largest blue diamond is the 45.52-carat Hope Diamond. The Hope Diamond is housed at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. The most expensive blue diamond sold at auction is the 14.62-carat “Oppenheimer Blue,” which sold for $57.5 million in 2016.
Now, the Golconda Blue awaits its new owner. On May 14th, at Christie’s auction at the Four Seasons Hotel in Geneva, this brilliant gem is ready to captivate the world once again.
