Which symbol of love could be more iconic than a heart-shaped diamond? Diamonds cut in the form of a heart are certainly not a modern trend because a lot of beautiful heart-shaped diamonds from the past are telling a passionate story.
Probably the most important diamond we all know is the Blue Hope. Its original shape was the heart. This exceptional blue violet diamond came from India and was introduced at the end of the 17th century by merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier at the French Court of Louis XIV. The diamond was recut in the shape of a heart of 67 carats (ct.) and renamed the “Blue of France” or “Blue Diamond of the Crown”.
Louis XIV, the Sun King, used diamond jewellery and in general French Art as a reflection his powerful France. As representing God on earth, he was also the only one who could wear this fabulous heart-shaped diamond.
After the French Revolution, the “Blue of France” was stolen and reappeared as a recut Blue diamond of 45,52 ct. Unfortunately, this heart-shaped diamond was especially recut to hide the origin. The British banker Henry Philip Hope bought it in 1830 and named it after himself: Hope diamond. Later, the diamond was sold to Pierre Cartier, who sold it to Evalyn Walsh McLean, a rich American heiress. In 1949, Harry Winston bought the Hope diamond and gave it in 1958 to the National Museum of Natural History in the USA. Today the Hope diamond is still exhibited, but no more in the shape of a heart.
Another exceptional heart-shaped diamond is the “Cullinan V” of 18,9 ct., which is still worn by Queen Elizabeth II of England and set in an elegant brooch. This heart diamond is one of the nine diamonds cut from the biggest diamond ever found in history, the Cullinan. The heart-shaped Cullinan V was given in 1910 by the South African government and its people to Queen Mary. Now, the Cullinan V is one of the favourite diamonds of her grand-daughter, Queen Elizabeth II.
And yet, another beautiful story behind the “Taj Mahal diamond”, which is a 56 ct diamond, table-cut but in the shape of a heart and discovered in India in the 17th century. The diamond is still inscribed in Persian, with the name of the first owner. The Taj Mahal Diamond was given – as a symbol of love – by Mughal Emperor Jahangir Shah, ruler of the Mughal Empire in India, to his favourite third wife, Nur Jahan. Later the diamond remained in the Mughal Treasury. Only in 1857, the British forces captured the city of Delhi and the jewels of the Mughal treasury were exported to England.
But there didn’t end the love story behind this diamond. Some legendary love stories as those of Richard Burton with Elizabeth Taylor or the Duc and Duchess of Windsor were memorized by important jewellery gifts. In 1972, Richard Burton bought the heart-shaped Taj Mahal Diamond to his wife Elizabeth Taylor as a gift for her 40th anniversary. Later when this original diamond was sold at a Christie’s jewellery auction, never before a heart-shaped diamond attended such a high price. It probably symbolised the price of love…
Since ages, the heart-shaped diamond has always been an important symbol: the symbolic meaning of a diamond as “invincible” and the heart as a symbol of love and passion, is a perfect match to endless happiness.
Text ©World Luxury Jewellers.
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