10 OF THE LARGEST GEM QUALITY DIAMONDS IN THE WORLD

One of the first diamonds found in the De Beers Consolidated Mines in Kimberley , South Africa , in 1888 , the diamond has seemingly vanished into thin air . In 1929 , it was featured in the Maharaja of Patiala ’ s crown jewels – forming a ceremonial necklace . It was one of 2,930 diamonds . Amazingly , in 1947 , the abolition of the Patiala Raj with India ’ s independence saw the necklace disappear . The true whereabouts of the diamond are unknown , despite remnants of the necklace appearing , sans many of the diamonds , in a second hand London jewellery shop in 1998 .

The Jubilee diamond was discovered in South

Africa in 1895 . When first discovered , the 650.8 carat rough diamond was named the Reitz diamond after the President of the Orange Free State , F . W . Reitz . The ‘ Jubilee ’ name came from when it was presented to Queen Victoria during her Diamond Jubilee in 1897 . The diamond was later purchased at an exhibit by the industrialist and philanthropist , Sir Dorabji Jamestji Tata , where it remained until his death in 1932 . Inherited and sold by The Cartier ’ s Jewellery firm , the Jubilee Diamond has been exhibited around the world , even returning to South Africa in the De Beers Diamond Pavilion . Today , the Jubilee diamond is owned by international jeweller Robert Mouawad , of Mouawad Jewellers .

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