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Description of the
Florentine Diamond
The Florentine Diamond
is one of the most famous diamonds in the world. But mystery surrounds
it - The Florentine is a Lost Diamond. The Florentine weighed
137 carats and it was cut as a double rose with 126 facets. The
Florentine diamond was a pale yellow citron color. It was cut in nine
surfaces covered with facets forming a star with nine rays. The type of
cut was a double rose cut, resemble an opening rose-bud.
Origin of the name
of the Florentine Diamond
The Florentine originated
from India in Golconda where it belonged to various Indian rulers. The famous Florentine diamond
came into the possession of the powerful Medici family and was housed in
the Medici treasury at Florence. ( Inhabitants of Florence were called
Florentines).
Alternative names
of the Florentine Diamond
The Florentine Diamond
is known by several other names which include:
The
owners of the Florentine diamond included the Royal Hose of Austria
(hence the Austrian) and the Grand Duke of Tuscany (hence the Tuscan).
The vast number of names given to this diamond nearly numbers the myths
and legends that surround its history...
History of the
Florentine Diamond
Myths, legends
and rumours surround the stone. The Florentine Diamond has been
owned by some great Kings, Queens, Dukes and even a Pope who all play a part in its history.
Confusion surrounds the history of the Florentine but the following
timeline has been fully researched and documents what appears to be the
most logical route taken by the Florentine. A
comprehensive history timeline documents the strange road that the Florentine
has travelled...
The History Timeline of the Florentine Diamond
The following
timeline & history of the Florentine details important historical events and
dates:
|
Dates in History of
the Florentine |
Timeline & History of
Florentine
Diamond
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The diamond
originated from the great diamond mines in India and
at first belonged to various Indian rulers |
|
1400's |
The Indian
Ocean was the scene of thriving trade in the 14th and
15th centuries and during this time the diamond was
believed to have gone to Europe |
|
1467 |
The first
European owner was believed to be Charles the Bald, Duke
of Burgundy (1433 – 1477) |
|
1467 |
About this
time the diamond was acquired by Charles the Bold, Duke
of Burgundy (1433 – 1477) Charles was the owner of a
great jewel collection including the
Sancy Diamond |
|
1475 |
A Flemish
polisher called Lodewyk (Louis) van Berquem of Brugge,
Belgium discovered how to cut the facets of a diamond
and is believed to have
designed the light yellow 137 carat Florentine Diamond for the
Valois Family commissioned by the Duke of Burgundy |
|
1476 |
Charles the
Bold, Duke of Burgundy, lost possession of the diamond
when he was defeated
by the Swiss at the Battle of Morat. There is a legend
that a peasant found the diamond and mistook it for a
piece of glass. He sold diamond was sold for just one
florin to a Swiss man called Bartholomew May who in turn
sold it to the Genoese |
|
1504 |
The
Genoese sold the diamond to Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of
Milan (1452 - 1508). The Duke placed the diamond for
safe keeping with the banking family called the Fuggers
and the diamond was securely housed in the Medici
treasury at Florence |
|
1500's |
The
Florentine then came into the possession of Pope Julius
II (1443 – February 1513) and it returned to the Fuggers
of Augsburg, the great money-lending bankers and jewel
setters (royal pawnbrokers) |
|
1547 |
In 1547
King Henry VIII of England is believed to have bought
the Florentine Diamond and it became part of England's
regalia (the Crown Jewels) |
|
1553 |
The Florentine was passed to
King Henry's daughter Mary Tudor (Bloody Mary) |
|
1554 |
Mary Tudor married Phillip
II of Spain (1527 – 1598) and is believed to have given
him the Florentine diamond as a gift |
|
1598 |
The
Florentine was believed to have passed the Florentine to
his son and heir Philip III of Spain (1578 - 1621) |
|
1607 |
Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1549 –
1609) was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1587 to 1609 and he
supported King Philip III of Spain in his campaign in
Algeria and the Holy Roman Emperor in his against the
Turks. The Florentine then passed into his possession |
|
1609 |
Cosimo
II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1590 – 1621)
inherited the Florentine |
|
1621 |
Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1610 –
1670) ruled as Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1621 to 1670 |
|
1657 |
Documented history begins when Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
(1605 – 1689), the French traveller and pioneer of
jewelry and diamond trade with India. saw the stone
among the possessions of Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand
Duke of Tuscany in 1657 |
|
1765 |
The
Florentine stayed in the Medici family until the last
Medici died. The last Medici was Francis I, 1708–65,
Holy Roman emperor (1745–65), duke of Lorraine (1729–37)
and as Francis Stephen the grand duke of Tuscany.
His wife the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria inherited
the Florentine and it was placed in the Habsburg Crown
Jewels in the Hofburg in Vienna |
|
1918 |
The
Florentine remained part of the Austrian regalia until
the fall of the Austrian Empire during WWI when the
Imperial Family went into exile in Switzerland. The
Florentine was then apparently stolen and became lost |
|
1791 |
Rumours circulate that the Florentine
was smuggled into South America, re-cut and then sold to
a buyer in the United States - but the rumours have
never been substantiated |
|
Timeline & History |
Timeline & History of
the Florentine |
History Timeline
of the Florentine
The above history
timeline of the diamond details important historical events and
dates and the legends and myths that surround the famous stone.
The Florentine Diamond
The above timeline &
history details important historical events and dates.
Fascinating information about the history of the Florentine stone providing
comprehensive facts, information and timeline about the history of the famous
diamond.
Famous - Precious - History
Timeline -
Stone - Guide - Timeline - Facts - Information -Info
History - History Timeline - Timeline & History - History
aka The Tuscan, The Austrian, The Tuscany Diamond,
Grand Duke of Tuscany, The Austrian Diamond
and The Austrian Yellow Diamond
Florentine Diamond
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The
Florentine Diamond
-
Timeline & History of the Florentine
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Facts and Information about the Florentine
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Facts, History, Timeline and Information about the Florentine
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History Timeline
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The Florentine - one of the World's most famous diamonds
-
Aka - The Tuscan, The Austrian, The Tuscany Diamond, The Grand
Duke of Tuscany, The Austrian Diamond and The Austrian Yellow
Diamond
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The History Timeline of the fabulous diamond
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