Blue color diamonds
Blue diamonds, especially with rich blue tones, are very rare and valuable. The color blue represents wisdom and prestige. It is often associated with the adjective “royal”. So it is not surprising that most of the famous blue diamonds have already been owned by royals.
Discover blue diamonds
Formation of blue diamonds and their intensity
The blue color of diamonds is caused by the semimetal boron. Green-blue diamonds often contain nitrogen molecules in addition to boron atoms. The more boron there is in a diamond's crystal lattice, the darker the blue. Blue diamonds rarely reach the color depth of a blue sapphire because they usually have a gray cast. In the past, brown diamonds were often treated so that they then had a blue color. Such changes to a diamond are shown in the certificate. However, these diamonds are not nearly as valuable as natural blue diamonds and are not offered at Yorxs.
Overtones in blue diamonds
Pure blue diamonds (without overtones) are extremely rare. Most blue ones have a gray overtone. Blue diamonds often also have green overtones. The most valuable are blue fancies without an overtone or with an overtone that underlines the natural blue color of the diamond.
Blue diamond locations
Many of the natural blue diamonds historically came from India. However, currently South Africa, particularly the Pretoria mine, is the largest producer of blue diamonds. But the Argyle mine in Australia is also known for its magnificent blue colors.
Famous blue diamonds
The Blue Hope
Source: famousdiamonds.tripod.com
The “Blue Hope” ( 45.52 carats ) was discovered in the Kollur mine in India in the 17th century and weighed 112 carats as a rough diamond. Jean Baptiste brought the diamond from India to France and sold it to King Louis XIV. However, the diamond disappeared during the French Revolution and did not reappear in England until 1830. Banker Henry Phillip Hope purchased the diamond. This is where his name comes from. The diamond has been at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington since 1958. The stone is particularly known as a bringer of bad luck.
The blue Wittelsbacher
Source: famousdiamonds.tripod.com
The dark blue diamond probably comes from the Kullur mine in India. In the 17th century it came to Vienna as a dowry for the daughter of the Spanish King Philip IV and then into the possession of the Wittelsbach family. In 1951 it was auctioned off and traces of it were lost. It was only later discovered that it was owned by Heidi Horten, who sold it through Christie's in 2008. Laurence Graff purchased the 35.5 carat for $24.3 million. The diamond was recut, now weighs 31.06 carats and is known as the Wittelsbach-Graff diamond.
The Blue Heart
Source: famousdiamonds.tripod.com
The “Blue Heart” weighs just 30.82 carats and has a rare, deep blue color. At the beginning of the 19th century, the diamond was given a heart cut. A short time later, Cartier acquired the blue heart and sold it to a woman from Argentina. In 1959, Harry Winston bought the diamond, had it set in a ring and sold it again a few years later. Marjorie Merriweather Post, an art collector, purchased the set diamond and gave the “Blue Heart” to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, where it remains today.
The Tereschenko Diamond
Source: famousdiamonds.tripod.com
This 42.92 carat, teardrop-cut diamond is one of the largest fancy blue diamonds in the world. The ring was originally owned by the Tereschenko family, who were sugar barons in pre-communist Russia. In 1916, shortly before the Russian Revolution, the diamond was hidden and taken out of the country. It wasn't until 1984 that the diamond resurfaced at a Christie's auction in Geneva. Robert Mouawad purchased the diamond for a record price. Since then the diamond has also been called the Mouawad diamond.