Famous Diamonds
World of Diamonds in One Frame
An extraordinary showcase of brilliance and craftsmanship, this remarkable display brings together some of the most famous diamonds ever known—each a masterpiece of nature and human artistry. It captures the timeless allure of these legendary gems, featuring a stunning array of shapes, colors, and cuts that trace the dazzling journey of diamonds through history.
From fiery yellows to icy whites and rare blues, every stone tells a story of beauty, rarity, and perfection. This exquisite composition invites you to marvel at the precision and artistry that transform raw crystal into icons of elegance—each gem a radiant symbol of humanity’s enduring fascination with light and luxury.
Explore these iconic diamonds below and uncover the stories behind their brilliance.
Beau Sancy
A wonderful little stone, this historic diamond is closely tied to its more famous counterpart, the legendary Sancy Diamond.
Black Orlov
The Black Orlov stands as the largest known black diamond of historical origin—a stone wrapped in centuries of mystery.
Cullinan I
This rare historical diamond was eventually cut into nine major stones and 96 smaller ones, each with its own place in history.
Darya-I-Nur
Among the most famous diamonds in history, the Darya-I-Nur (meaning Sea of Light) holds a truly remarkable place.
Dresden Green
The diamond likely originated in India’s Golconda mines, the same region that produced legendary gems like the Koh-i-Noor.
Florentine
Among the rare historical diamonds of the world, few are as elusive—or as debated—as the Florentine Diamond.
French Blue
One particularly thorny technical issue revolves around the break facets—those small facets along the girdle (the junction of crown and pavilion).
Great Mogul
There is only one recorded instance of this stone, and it occurs in Tavernier’s book (1676).
Great Table
The majority of the research for this diamond is taken from a Gem and Gemology article written in 1969.
Idol’s Eye
This stone was offered at a Christie’s auction in 1865, its first authenticated appearance.
Koh-I-Noor
The Koh-I-Noor is one of the most fascinating stones in my opinion. It has been a 25 year quest to cut the original 186 carat form.
Mirror of Portugal
The Mirror of Portugal (Miroir du Portugal, or MdP) is another one of those famous diamonds where little is known about it.
Shah Jahan Table Cut
History of this diamond starts with Jahangir Shah, the fourth Shah of the Mogul empire who ruled in the very early 1600’s.
Spoonmaker
This stone has an uncertain history, but since the early 1800’s has been in possession of the Turkish government.
Tavernier Blue
Much of the technical information concerning the Tavernier Blue was developed while researching the Hope diamond.
Wittelsbach
The Wittelsbach diamond is one if those rare diamonds that has survived the ravages of time and history.