Famous Yellow Diamond
The largest yellow diamond ever discovered was found in South Africa more than 200 years ago. This magnificent yellow diamond was 287 carats and was originally purchased by Tiffany Jewelers for $18,000 in the late 1880s. This beautiful, light-yellow stone was cut into a brilliant 90 facet, 128 cushion-cut that was later named the Tiffany Diamond.
The cutting of the Tiffany Diamond took over a year to complete. For years, the Tiffany Diamond was the main attraction at expositions like the Chicago Columbian in 1893, the Pan-American in 1901, the Chicago Century of Progress in 1933-34, 100-year celebration of the Kimberly Mine, the 1939 World's Fair in New York, and the 1957 Tiffany Ball - where the stone was set into a beautiful diamond necklace. In 1961, the Tiffany Diamond gained a huge amount of public notoriety when Audrey Hepburn wore the Tiffany Diamond necklace in the award-winning film Breakfast at Tiffany's. Following the filming of Breakfast at Tiffany's, a famous Tiffany designer - Jean Schlumberger - fashioned the diamond into a beautiful brooch, entitled "Bird on a Rock".
Recently, a number of famous Hollywood celebrities have taken note of the beauty, excitement, and attraction of yellow diamonds. For example, Katie Holmes was given a beautiful yellow diamond engagement ring by her fiance, Tom Cruise. Elton John purchased a 25-carat yellow diamond ring. At the 2005 Academy Awards, there were a number of famous people walking the red carpet, dressed in yellow diamonds, including: Cate Blanchett, Penelope Cruz, Mary Hart and Kathy Griffin. And, famed singer, song writer and film star Usher also purchased an eye-popping designer watch that sparkles with approximately 1,000 tiny yellow diamonds in a portrait on the face of the watch.
One of the most famous yellow diamonds is called The Sancy. This exceptional 55 carat, light yellow diamond was originally purchased in 1570 by the French Ambassador to Turkey, Nicholas Harlai, the Seigneur de Sancy. The beautiful yellow stone has a number of unique features, including its unusual fluorescence of yellow and pink. However, the most unique feature of the stone may be its unusual history. In 1477, it was rumored that The Sancy diamond was lost by Charles, Duke of Burgundy on the field of battle. Throughout history, The Sancy Diamond has been loaned to the French Kings Henry III and Henry IV, sold to the English Crown and then sold back to the French Crown by James II. It was used to raise money for war, lost for an unpaid loan, bought by a Cardinal, willed to the French Crown and stolen in a great heist of the French Crown jewels. The Sancy Diamond is among the most famous European diamonds and now resides in the Louvre.