Florentine Diamond
Florentine diamond is also known as the Great Florentine Diamond as it
is one of the largest diamonds on the face of the earth. This diamond
has other names like, Tuscan, the Tuscany Diamond, the grand Duke of
Tuscany, the Austrian Diamond and the Austrian Yellow Diamond. The
famous Florentine Medici family was the proud owner of the Florentine
diamond once. It was also in the possession of Charles the Bold who was
the Duke of Burgundy. |  |
The history of this diamond is somewhat
controversial. Many accounts and stories are present regarding the
history of the Florentine Diamond. One version of the disputed history
is that Charles the Bold had lost this precious jewel in the battle of
Morat in 1476. The story goes that a Swiss mercenary found the diamond
and sold it to a priest thinking that it was a piece of glass. The
priest sold the gem to the Berne authority from whom a wealthy merchant
purchased it for 5,000 florins. Finally through various ways the
diamond adorned the Medici exchequer. Others believe that the
Florentine diamond is of Indian origin.
They believe that it belonged to the great Vijayanagar Empire of southern India and was later acquired by the Portuguese governor of Goa. It came in the possession of the Portuguese Castro-Noranha family and they sold it to Ferdinando I de' Medici for 35,000 Portuguese scudi crocati.
They believe that it belonged to the great Vijayanagar Empire of southern India and was later acquired by the Portuguese governor of Goa. It came in the possession of the Portuguese Castro-Noranha family and they sold it to Ferdinando I de' Medici for 35,000 Portuguese scudi crocati.
The true history of the Florentine Diamond is documented by Tavernier.
According to him after the fall of the Medici, the diamond made its way
to Vienna and was positioned in the Hapsburg Crown Jewels in Hofbrug.
The value of the Florentine diamond then was $750,000 or 2,608,335
livres.
The specifications of the Florentine diamond are given in details in the historical account of Tavernier. The weight of the diamond was about 139 ½ carats according to Tavernier but it is also believed that it was of 137.27 carats. The gem had a yellowish tint and was cut on 9 sides in the shape of a shield. All the sides possessed an irregular 126 facet double rose cut.
The specifications of the Florentine diamond are given in details in the historical account of Tavernier. The weight of the diamond was about 139 ½ carats according to Tavernier but it is also believed that it was of 137.27 carats. The gem had a yellowish tint and was cut on 9 sides in the shape of a shield. All the sides possessed an irregular 126 facet double rose cut.
UnderGarments : Bikini wax Bra Guide Silk Blouse Excessive Hair
Jewellery : Bracelets Rings Necklace Earring
Diamond : Florentine Diamond Ocean Dream Diamond
Colored Diamonds Diamond Jewelery Allnatt Diamond
Jewellery : Bracelets Rings Necklace Earring
Diamond : Florentine Diamond Ocean Dream Diamond
Colored Diamonds Diamond Jewelery Allnatt Diamond
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