Sunday, March 22, 2009

Florentine Diamond




This cubic zirconium replica was designed and cut by Scott Sucher. Sucher said he had to use mathmatics to figure out the angles and measurements of the sides of the stone because of a lack of information about it. Only Jean-Baptiste Tavernier's drawing of the stone and a few black and white photos (from prior to 1921 when the stone disappeared) exist.




Once the great yellow diamond of the Medici Family, this historic Indian stone is actually light yellow in color with a very slight green overtone and is fashioned in the form of an irregular, nine-sided, one 126-facet double rose cut. It weighed 137.27 carats.
Legends surrounding the stone date as far back as 1467, when Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, is said to have been wearing it when he fell in battle. A peasant or foot soldier found it on the Duke's person and sold it for a florin, thinking it was glass, after which it changed hands innumerable times for small sums of money. Pope Julius II is named as one of the owners.

1 comment:

  1. To whom it may concern,

    I am hoping you can respond ASAP to my request.

    I am writing a novel on the florentine diamond, and am looking for a photo(s) to use on the back cover.

    Such as the 1st one above

    I am asking your permission for images, in which I would be allowed to use, to alter for commercial use on the back cover of a novel i will be selling.

    Please advise if you have any stock photos you wouldn't mind me using.

    Anything can help

    contact me at justin.b.hodder@hotmail.com

    thank you

    ReplyDelete