The Royal Bleu
Did you know that most of the French Crown jewels, or ‘Diamants de la Couronne de France,’ have been destroyed over the centuries, with only one of the 20 documented royal crowns surviving? King Louis XVI is depicted here, wearing the Royal French Blue, originally set in gold and suspended on a neck ribbon that he wore during ceremonial occasions.
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a French traveller and trader is believed to have discovered this famous diamond. Bringing this gemstone back from his travels to India and consequently selling it to Louis XVI. They named this diamond ‘The Blue Diamond of the French Crown or the Royal French Blue’. Stunning, but crudely cut ‘violet’ diamond weighed just over 115ct and had perfect clarity. Five years later, the diamond was re-cut by the court jeweller into the 68ct French blue we know today.
During the French Revolution, thieves stole this famous blue diamond in 1792, causing it to disappear from view for several decades. It is believed that the diamond was re-cut to 45.52ct to conceal its origin. The only blue diamond of that exact size is the Hope Diamond, and modern scientists have proven that the two stones are one and the same.
The Hope Diamond
The hope diamond is probably the most famous blue diamond in the world. Estimated worth around a quarter of a billion dollars. It is known for its mysterious origins. The stories are conflicting although it’s most likely to have been found in Golkonda mines in southern India. These mines, now extinct, were the source of several extraordinary diamonds, including the Koh-i-Noor.
After disappearing for decades, the diamond resurfaced in 1812 in the possession of Daniel Eliason. It vanished again in 1830, sold privately, before coming into the hands of Henry Thomas Hope in 1839, from whom it took its name. Cartier later mounted the Hope Diamond as a headpiece on a three-tiered circlet of large white diamonds. Eventually, it became the pendant on the diamond necklace we recognize today.
If you’re considering creating a jewellery piece featuring a diamond, I’d love to hear from you. Get in touch, and let’s explore your ideas together.
