Florentine Diamond
 

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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 Tuscan

  • The Austrian

  • The Tuscany Diamond

  • The Grand Duke of Tuscany

  • The Austrian Diamond

  • The Austrian Yellow Diamond

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...

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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
  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
 

Information about the famous Florentine Diamond

Discover some fascinating information about the famous Florentine
Diamond

  • Timeline & History of the Florentine

  • Facts and Information about the Florentine Diamond

  • Facts, History, Timeline and Information about the Florentine

  • History Timeline

  • 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

  • The History Timeline of the fabulous Florentine diamond

  • The Mystery of the Florentine

  • History & Timeline of the Florentine Diamond

  • Florentine Diamond - one of the World's most famous diamonds
 
 

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