Famous diamonds

Brazil

President Vargas

The 727-carat Vargas is the largest diamond yet found in South America. Discovered in 1938 in the San Antonio River by a prospector, it was cut into 29 stones, the largest of which is about 48 ct.

Star of the South

It is the first Brazilian diamond to receive international acclaim.Found in the Bagagem mines in 1853, the uncut crystal weighed about 262 ct. The brilliant that was shaped from it weighs nearly 128.48-carat. The stone was graded as VS-2 in clarity and Fancy Light Pinkish-Brown in color. It was also determined to be a type IIa diamond.

India

Florentine

This pale yellow diamond was acquired in 1657 and was part of the treasure of the Grand Duke of Tuscany and later became one of the Austrian crown jewels (marriage of Francis Stephen of Lorena and Austria's Empress Mary Theresa). The present location the most famous Italian gem of the 137.27-ct diamond is unknown.

Great Mogul

Found about 1650, the 280-ct Great Mogul was the largest diamond cut in India. The original stone may have weighed nearly 800 ct. It was last seen about 1665 and may have been cut into smaller gems.

Koh-i-Noor or "The Mountain of Light"

This gem has the oldest verifiable history of all diamonds and has been traced back to 1304 when the Indian Rajah of Malwa owned the stone. Later the first mughal emperor Babur was the owner of the diamond who mentioned the stone in his memoires.
After changing hands many times it was purchased by Britain in 1849 and is now in the Queen Mother's crown. The recut stone weighs approximately 105.6 ct. It is estimated that the orginal diamond weighed 600 carats.
The Koh-I-Noor is set in the Maltese Cross at the front of the crown of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mum, together with more than 2000 diamonds. The British crown jewels are the symbol of the British Monarchy and are only used for coronation cermonies. The Koh-I-Noor and the British crown jewels are kept in the Tower of London.

Orlov (or Orloff, or Orlow)

The 198,62-ct rose-cut Orlov, according to legend, was stolen from an Indian temple where it formed one of the eyes of an idol. Eventually bought by a Russian prince Orlov, the Orlov diamond was mounted in the Imperial Sceptre of Catherine the Great. Now it is one of the most famous Russian diamonds and is a part of the Treasures of the Diamond Fund.

Regent or Pitt-originally known

Discovered in 1701, the 410-ct Regent was cut into a brilliant of about 140.50 ct and sold in 1717 Phillip II, Duke of Orleans and then Regent of France bought the diamond. Since that time it has been known as the Regent diamond. Stolen in 1792 (with the Sancy and Hope gems), in 1887 the Regent diamond was exhibited at the Louvre, where it stayed until World War II. The diamond was then hidden from the Germans, but finally returned to the Louvre and is now on display in the Apollon Gallery of the Louvre Museum.

Republic of South Africa

Cullinan

The Cullinan, the largest diamond yet found, weighed 3,106 ct when discovered in the Premier mine in 1905 and was named after the owner of the mine Sir Thomas Cullinan. It was presented to Britain's Edward VII in 1907 and was cut into nine large stones (now part of the British crown jewels) and nearly 100 gems.

Excelsior

Found in the Jagersfontein mine in 1893 as a 995,2 carats rough diamond crystal, was blue-white colored and had some black spots inside. The Excelsior was cut into 21 stones, Excelsior I, Excelsior II and so on, the largest of which is about 70 ct. The Excelsior diamonds were sold seperately. Some were bought by Tiffany & Co, some are said to be purchased by De Beers.

Jonker

The 726-ct Jonker was found at Elandsfontein in 1934 and was bought by Harry Winston, Inc., of New York City. It was cut into 12 gems.

Golden Jubilee

In 1985 the Golden Jubilee diamond was discovered in the Premier mine in South Africa. It was first known as the Unnamed Brown, because of its brown color. The Golden Jubilee is the largest faceted diamond in the world.The Golden Jubilee weighs 545 carats and was cut by the master cutter Gabi Tolkowsky in a fire rose cushion cut. The diamond was considered as a rather ugly stone, but Gabi Tolkowsky produced with special tools and cutting methods a glittering yellow-brown beauty of a diamond. The Unnamed Brown became the Golden Jubilee when King Rama IX of Thailand (also known as King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great) was given the stone to the 50th anniversary of his coronation in 1997. The Golden Jubilee is mounted in the royal sceptre of King Rama IX.

Tiffany

The deep yellow, 128-ct Tiffany was discovered in the Kimberley mine as a 287-ct rough crystal.

Other famous cut diamonds include:

- the Regent of Portugal (Brazil), 221 ct - which may be a topaz, however;
- Victoria (South Africa), 185 ct;
- Shah (India), 89 ct;
- Star of South Africa (South Africa), 48 ct;
- Sancy (India), 55 ct;
- Hope (India), the largest blue diamond; 44 ct; and
- Dresden Green (India), 41 ct.

Most famous diamond mining companies:

- De Beers Groop
- Alrosa Co. Ltd
- Endiama E.P.
- Tahera Diamond
- BHP Billiton
- Debswana Company (Pty) Ltd
- Aber Diamond Corporation
- Anglo American plc
- Firestone Diamond Mining

See also another kind of long-term investments:

- Gold as an Investment
- Invest to a Silver
- ArtWorks