Famous Black Diamonds

So now that you could have read about the origins of black diamonds, it’s time to find out the most spectacular and historically important famous black diamonds found on this beautiful earth.  This list is made up of 4 stunning black diamonds that our master craftsmen and women would do anything for to get their hands on.

Black Amsterdam Diamond

As a rough diamond as found in the mine it was 55.85 carat and after it has been cut it was still a staggering 33,74 carat black diamond.

The Black Amsterdam Diamond was found in South Africa in 1972. It got its name from the place it was cut into a beautiful pear shape fancy black diamond. Once they turned this rough stone into the beautiful pear shape you see here, it was named The Black Amsterdam Diamonds in honor of the 700th year anniversary of the city. A perfect fit because Amsterdam is also known as City of Diamonds. It was a feat of amazing craftsmanship that the rough diamond was cut at all because the original rock was extremely hard and porous. The stone was then set in a pendant with 15 brilliant diamonds. A true mark of pride that confirms the renowned craftsmenship of the Amsterdam diamond polishers.

The “Spirit of the Grisognono”

This black beauty is still the world’s largest cut diamond and the fifth largest diamond in the world. It was found in Central Africa and was 587 carat when it rose from the earth. Word spread around the world and the most famouse craftsmen -including the ones from Coster Diamonds- were considered to cut it, but the honor finally went to the similarly renowned Swiss jeweler: De Grisogono. Their Polishers were using the techniques that the Coster craftsmen and women were famous for and were also used to polish the famous “Indian stones of the Moguls”. The final cut diamond weighs 312.24 carat and it was set in a white gold ring with 702 smaller white diamonds to a total of 36.69 carat. Now that’s a statement ring!

The Rembrandt

As another one of Amsterdam related stunning famous black diamonds, the 42.27 carat black diamond gets its name because it was revealed at the Rijksmuseum (located at a 3 minute walk from Royal Coster) by the Rembrandt specialist Gerry Schwartz. Cut from a rough black diamond of 125 carat, it took three years and three days to polish this extremely hard stone to a remarkable brilliant cut diamond shape. The brilliant black diamond was then set in a beautiful collier alongside a row of brilliant-cut diamonds. You can see this today at the Diamond Museum Amsterdam.

The Black Orlov

The Black Orlov is also known as the Eye of Brahma. If you look at it you can easily understand why it’s named after the eye of the Hindu god of creation and the story that goes with it makes it probably the most famous black diamond in this list. It weighs 67.5 carat and the rough stone weighed 195 carat.

We can safely say that this black diamond was found in India in the early 19th century, in a statue of the Hindu god Brahma in Pondicherry and stayed there until it reportedly was stolen by a monk. According to legend, the stone got cursed because a holy monk stole it. Proof? Well, the curse first showed it’s devilish powers in 1932 when the diamond merchant J.W. Paris, committed suicide by jumping from a skyscraper in New York after he brought the cursed stone to America. Subsequent owners, including two Russian princesses also committed suicide by jumping from tall buildings. Sidenote: one of these princesses was named Nadia Vygin-Orlov and the stone got it’s current name from her.

To break the curse, another owner, Charles F. Winson, divided it into three stones instead of one. Lifting a curse is just that easy, I guess. These 3 black diamonds were later put in a brooch along with 108 white brilliant cut diamonds. These came from the necklace where the Orlov first were set in, when they were still one piece.

The black diamond is today as far as we know on display at the Natural History Museum in London.
And about that curse? Remember that the diamond went through the hands of dozens of owners and in that time people died a lot faster anyway. Having a great story to tell even made the diamond more desirable. Or maybe it was cursed… (no, it wasn’t)

The Sergio- 3167 carats

The Segio is a black carbonado diamond. This rare diamond was discovered in 1895 in the state of Bahia in Brazil. The black carbonado diamonds are rare and the Sergio is the largest carbonado diamond ever found. It is also the largest rough diamond ever found which makes it the first diamond in the list of largest diamonds found till yet. Like other carbonado, it is believed to be of meteoritic origin.

Black Diamond Jewelry

Famous Black diamonds are great but all black diamonds are beautiful. Especially in jewelry for that special luxury evening or when attending that movie night premiere with the rest of Hollywood. And you’ve got a great story to tell now! If you are interested in purchasing black diamonds or black diamond jewelry check out our special catalogue of high-end black diamond rings, black diamond earrings, black diamond necklaces or just browse the full catalog of black and white diamond jewelry.

Contact our diamond consultants to get the best possible advice on black diamond jewelry. Or start your own black diamond legend with one of these stunning black diamond earrings, necklaces and rings.