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Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond

By Harry&Co

Description and Characteristics

  • The Wittelsbach Diamond is also known as Der Blaue Wittelsbacher.
  • It is a 35.56-carat fancy, deep, greyish-blue diamond with VS2 clarity.
  • The diamond had 82 facets arranged in an atypical pattern.
  • It had been compared to the Hope Diamond.

History and Ownership

  • The diamond originates from the Kollur mines of Guntur District in Andhra Pradesh, India.
  • It was first mentioned about fifty years later when it was already in Vienna.
  • The diamond came to Munich in 1722 when Maria Amalia married Karl of Bavaria.
  • It was mounted on the Bavarian Electors Order of the Golden Fleece in 1745.
  • The jewel remained on top of the Bavarian crown until 1918.
  • The diamond was unsuccessfully put up for sale in 1931 during the Great Depression.
  • It was eventually sold in 1951 and remained in a private collection since 1964.
  • In 2008, the Wittelsbach Diamond was sold to Laurence Graff for £16.4 million.
  • In 2011, Graff apparently sold the diamond to the former emir of Qatar for at least US$80 million.
  • The sale in 2008 set a record as the highest price ever paid at auction for a diamond.

Alteration

  • After the sale in 2008, Graff announced his intention to recut the gem.
  • The diamond was recut in 2010 to enhance its color and clarity, losing over 4.45 carats in the process.
  • The recutting was met with heavy criticism by some experts.
  • The alteration of the historical stone has been compared to the overpainting of a painting by Rembrandt.
  • The gem was re-evaluated and its color grade revised to the more desirable fancy deep blue.

Royal Lineage and Exhibitions

  • The Wittelsbach Diamond has a royal lineage, passing through different rulers and families.
  • It was exhibited at the World Expo in Brussels in 1958.
  • The diamond was last seen in public at Ludwig III of Bavaria's funeral in 1921.

Additional Information

  • There are further reading materials available on the Wittelsbach Diamond.
  • A list of famous diamonds and individual gemstones can be explored for more information.

Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond Data Sources

Reference URL
Glossary https://harryandcojewellery.com.au/blogs/glossary/wittelsbach-graff-diamond
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wittelsbach-Graff_Diamond
Wikidata https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q728710
Knowledge Graph https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/051x9_w