Ten of the Most Famous Diamonds and Who Owns Them

There are more than three hundred fifty named diamonds famous for their histories.

The Cullinan, is the largest cut diamond in the world. It was found in South Africa and was named for the owner of the mining company. The Cullinan diamond was 3106 carats, and was cut into 105 stunning diamonds. The largest was named the "Star of Africa" and is 530 carats by itself. In 1907 this diamond was given to King Edward VII of England, and set into the Royal Scepter. It is kept, along with the other Crown Jewels, safely in the Tower of London.

The Cullinan II is 317.40 carats. The color is white and is the cushion-shaped diamond in the center-front of the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain. It is also in the Tower of London with the British Crown Jewels.

The Dary-i-Nur is 186 carats, is pink and is in the Iranian Treasury. It is the largest uncut diamond in the world. Its name means "Sea of Light".

The Dresden Green is 41 carats; it is green, and a very rare type ila diamond of extraordinary quality. It gets its name from the city of Saxony where it had been on display for 200 years. The Dresden Green is now on display at the Albertinium Museum in Dresden.

The Hope Diamond is 45.52 carats, is blue, and is in the Smithsonian Institute. According to legend, a curse was placed on the large, blue diamond after it was stolen from an idol in India. Whether you believe in curses or not, the diamond has had a fascinating past ? it was owned by King Louis XIV, stolen during the French Revolution, sold to pay gambling debts, owned and worn almost daily by an American heiress, sold and worn to raise money for charity, and finally donated to the Smithsonian Museum.

The Hortensia is 20 carats, is peach colored and is in the Louvre. It is one of the crown Jewels of France, and was owned by Louis XIV. It was named after Hortense de Beauharnais, Queen of Holland, who was the daughter of the Empress Josephine, the stepdaughter of Napoleon Bonaparte and the mother of Napoleon III.

The Kohinoor is 108.93 carats, white and is located in the Tower of London. As with many of the most famous diamonds, there is a curse of death and destruction attached to it. Its name means "Mountain of Light" and legend has it that it actually comes from another diamond also rife with legend, called the "Great Mogul" which was said to have weighed 244 carats and mysteriously disappeared in 1665. The Kohinoor was owned by the first sultan of Mogul, and passed down through generations, until it was given to Queen Victoria. It was recut and now rests in the crown of Queen Elizabeth.

The Orloff is 189.62 carats. It is thought to have weighed about 300 carats when it was discovered. For a while, it was confused with the Great Mogul diamond. One of the legends of the Orloff is that it was set in the eye of a god statue in the temple of Sri Rangen, and stolen by a French soldier dressed up like a Hindu. He is said to have escaped by swimming down a raging river during a storm. It was eventually sold to Prince Gregory Orloff. In an attempt to win back her heart, he gave it to Catherine the Great, who collected lovers and precious gems with equal passion. She had the diamond mounted on top of the double eagle in the Imperial scepter. It is in the Russian Diamond Fund, Moscow.

The Spoonmaker Diamond has many legends associated with it. (It supposedly got its name when the owner--who is said to have found it sitting on top of a pile of garbage --bartered it to a spoonmaker for three wooden spoons.) More likely is that it was purchased by a Frenchman named Pikot, who bought it from the Maharajah of Madras in India. He took it to France, but was robbed. The diamond ended up at an auction, and was bid on by the notorious Casanova. It was finally bought by Napoleon's mother, Letizia Ramolino, who later sold her jewelry to help her son escape from Elba. It was bought again by an officer of Tepedelenli, and put into the treasury. When Tepedelenli was killed during a revolt, the entire treasury went to the Palace of Turkey, and the Spoonmaker's Diamond, now called the "Kasicki" is there.

The Taylor-Burton Diamond is a 69 carat pear-shaped white diamond that was originally called the "Cartier Diamond" after the jeweler paid $1,050,000 for it at an auction. Richard Burton purchased it the day after the auction for Elizabeth Taylor. She later renamed it the Taylor-Burton diamond. Ms. Taylor wore the diamond publicly at a party for Princess Grace's 40th birthday party in Monaco. She sold the diamond in 1978 and used the funds to build a hospital in Botswana. The diamond was later purchased by Robert Mouawad.

Read more about Diamond Myths, Legends & History at HomeGiftShopper.com

? 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. This article is provided courtesy of Home Gift Shopper: A premier resource for quality Gift Ideas. This article may be republished as long as it remains unchanged, this notice stays intact, and all links are made live.

---

Summer Swimsuits ? There is Still Time to Enjoy Them

Our summer season has finally made its way into July, marking what most of us consider to be the halfway point of the season. Soon enough, we will struggle to fit another weekend... Read More

History of Charm Bracelets

The custom of wearing charm bracelets dates back thousands of years, and though the materials and designs on them have changed, the concept itself has never gone out of style.This form of jewelry... Read More

How to Dress for the Business World

1. Treat your business clothing as an investment and choose wisely. Make sure you buy classic styles that suit your body shape, are comfortable, have quality workmanship and quality material. This is no... Read More

Gemstones Natural vs Synthetic

What is a synthetic gemstone? A synthetic gem is created in a laboratory under controlled conditions. The gem is grown from a natural gemstone "seed". By controlling the environment in which the gem... Read More

Why Fashion Matters

Fashion has suffered its share of browbeating and scorn. To understand fashion and what it truly implies for a culture I take a step back from my undertaking to catalogue fashion history. The... Read More

What Shoes Should You Wear for Unforgettable Prom Night

Prom night is always something you long to have during your school time. It always a night where you hope to be the most beautiful girl that time. However, life is not always... Read More

How to Develop Your Own Personal Fashion Style

Samuel L. Jackson has a Kangol hat. Jude Law always seems to have a beautiful tailored English suit with a colored shirt. Mischa Barton from the hit TV show "The OC" has her... Read More

Your Fashion Style is Important

Fashion style is important. You clothes make your fashion statement, and how you're perceived. Stand straight and carry yourself with grace. You will radiate self confidence. Here are some fashion tips and advice... Read More

Safety Glasses Can Be Fashionable

Safety glasses have evolved from the days of poorly fitting plastic protection we used to put on our eyes. Today, we expect more from eyewear and eyeglass manufacturers and the same is true... Read More

Womens Sandals Add a Touch of Elegance and Sex Appeal to Your Feet

Womens sandals are no longer simply the rubber thong style sandal of yesteryear, they have become a footwear fashion diva's dream, ranging from designer leather thongs with beaded detail to fancy, sophisticated looking... Read More

Have a Cause? Wear a Rubber Wristband!

They are the hottest wearable right now, despite the fashion gurus adding the adjective 'once trendy' while referring to them. Yes we're talking about rubber wristbands. You can't escape them anymore. Be it... Read More

Travel With Style

Your heading out for that vacation you've been waiting sooo long for. You've got your tickets, passports current. Don't sacrifice comfort for fashion as you jet off to paradise - you can truly... Read More

Fashionable Clothing That You Choose

Clothing encompasses a wide range of apparel. From big and tall men's clothing to women's clothing. How we dress ourselves and what we wear tells the people around us a lot about who... Read More

How to Care For Your Designer Handbag

Whether your designer handbag is a Louis Vuitton, a Gucci, or any other designer, it is important to take proper care of it. Proper care will give you many years of beauty and... Read More

Get Fashionable With Womens Flipflops

The hottest fashion trend for feet this summer is women's flipflops.No, I don't mean the rubber thong variety flipflops. I mean groovy, embellished flipflops, or slides, for the ultimate in casual chic.Along with... Read More

Stylin? Safety Glasses Are Hot to Look At

What do you think of when you hear the words "safety glasses"? Are you picturing the big clear plastic one size fits all glasses that sort of fit over your eyes? I have... Read More

The Charming Narciso Rodriguez

Narciso Rodriguez was born in New Jersey in 1961 to Cuban parents. He studied at Parsons School of Design in New York, and upon graduation worked for designers such as Anne Klein, TSE,... Read More

Tattoos; Not Just for Drunken Sailors

Tattoos are not new. They have been around longer then recorded history. It just seems I have been noticing them a lot more lately. I don't know if that was because I started... Read More

The Royal Blue Contact Lens Really Stands Out

Have you always wanted to have sparkling baby blues but weren't fortunate enough to be born with them? That's not a problem anymore. Now more than ever colored contact lenses are catching on... Read More

Man Earring: a macho look in jewelry fashion

These days, there is a call for more "metrosexuals," or men who are conscious about their looks and clothing, so much that it is actually important for them to be not only presentable,... Read More

Celebrity Fashions For The Average Woman

It's never ending Jessica Simpson totes a Vuitton bag, Courtney Cox is seen in Instyle wearing a beautiful Prada dress, Hilary Swank heads down the runway wearing Calvin Klein. If that's not enough... Read More

Menswear ? Putting Together A Business Wardrobe - Part 3

It's easier for men to build a professional wardrobe, but as with many other things, it's getting started that is the toughest! Let's talk this time about Accessorizing your Business Wardrobe, and look... Read More

Belly Rings: Sexy is as Sexy Does

Body piercings have been the object of much controversy -- besides being an artistic expression and a celebration of one's physical endowments. The belly ring is such a piece of jewelry.In times of... Read More

Diamonds Are Forever

Diamond jewelry: diamond rings, diamond earrings, diamond pendants and diamond bracelets are some of the most sought after gemstone creations. Your eyes tell you how beautiful a piece of diamond jewelry is, but... Read More

Tribal Tattoo Designs

For centuries, tattoos symbolized the membership in groups, families, but for a few years, tattoos have become more popular. It is possible that many people have them not only for decorative purpose, so... Read More

Munro Sandals for Summer 2005

Munro shoes offer unbeatable comfort and value. Made in America, their sandals come in an astounding variety of fashionable colours and textiles, sure to suit your every mood. Flip-flops and mules are still... Read More

Mens Fashion - How To Create Lasting And Permanent Styles

Many men and women do not have much idea about Mens Fashion. Very often the advice I have been approached on are what men can wear to appear professional or what men should... Read More

Louis Vuitton Handbags

Louis Vuitton is a name recognized throughout the world. Known for their fabulous design and quality product. One must ask how did Louis Vuitton handbags come to be?In the early 1800s Louis Vuitton... Read More

Give Your Jeans Some Attitude

These days, jeans are becoming a basic building block of any wardrobe. Almost everywhere around the globe, you see people wearing jeans. From high-waist pants, capris, and cargos to tattered jeans and cigarette... Read More