An extremely rare vivid blue diamond weighing 23.24 carats, known as The Golconda Blue, will go for auction at the Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva, Switzerland. It is mounted in a top-quality contemporary ring by famed Paris designer JAR, The stone was previously owned by Indian royalty, and it is projected to sell for between USD 35 and 50 million (approx. Rs 300 and 430 crore).
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Gem
“Exceptional noble gems of this caliber come to market once in a lifetime,” said Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s International Head of Jewelry. He underscored the diamond’s prestigious provenance, placing it in the league of legendary Golconda gems like the Archduke Joseph and the Princie.
Royal Heritage And Historical Significance
“With its royal heritage, extraordinary color, and exceptional size, The Golconda Blue is truly one of the rarest blue diamonds in the world,” Kadakia added.
For Indians The Golconda Blue has profound historical significance because of its origins in the well-known Golconda mines in present-day Telangana and its ties to royal houses of Indore and Baroda.
The Diamond’s Royal Journey
The recorded journey of the diamond commences with Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar II of Indore who was an historically important modernist ruler, who possessed a fine sensibility and a globalized sense of culture in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1923, on behalf of Yeshwant Rao, the Maharajas father ordered a bracelet with the blue diamond from a French jeweler named Chaumet, after purchasing the famous Indore Pears.
Redesigns And Iconic Appearances
During the 1930s, royal jeweler Mauboussin redesigned the piece, placing The Golconda Blue in a necklace which was famously worn by the Maharani of Indore and recorded in a portrait by French artist Bernard Boutet de Monvel.
From Indian Royalty To Global Legacy
After India gained its independence in 1947, the diamond was purchased by New York jeweler Harry Winston, who put it together in a brooch with a similar white diamond. The piece was eventually passed on to the Maharaja of Baroda, and later sold into private hands.
