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Lot Essay
Golconda! What a name to conjure up in the world of diamonds. The very word is associated with fabulous wealth, bejewelled princes, turbaned traders and covered oriental bazaars.
Indeed, in the words of Venetian traveller Marco Polo (1254-1324) "No country but this (India) produces diamonds. Those which are brought to our part of the world are only the refuse, as it were, of the finer and larger stones. For the flower of the diamonds are all carried to the Great Khan and other kings and princes of the region. In truth they possess all the treasures of the world."
Such was, and still is the legend of Golconda. The mines that produced some of the most spectacular diamonds of the world such as the Koh-I-noor, the Hope, the Idol’s Eye and the Agra.
Since the sale of the Agra Diamond, a cushion-shaped fancy light pink diamond of 32.24 carats for £4.07M ($6.95M) at Christie'’s in London on June 20th 1990 there have rarely been any pink Golconda diamonds offered at auction.
At 10.14 carats, this old mine-cut light pink diamond is then a truly rare stone to appear for sale at auction. Cut in typical Mughal fashion, it has a crown that is deeper than its pavillion which suggests that it was worn at one time with it’s pavillion facing up, probably as part of an impressive Mughal jewel.
Accompanied by its characteristic limpid transparency and a soft pink hue, it is a true Golconda gem, a diamond of the first water!
Indeed, in the words of Venetian traveller Marco Polo (1254-1324) "No country but this (India) produces diamonds. Those which are brought to our part of the world are only the refuse, as it were, of the finer and larger stones. For the flower of the diamonds are all carried to the Great Khan and other kings and princes of the region. In truth they possess all the treasures of the world."
Such was, and still is the legend of Golconda. The mines that produced some of the most spectacular diamonds of the world such as the Koh-I-noor, the Hope, the Idol’s Eye and the Agra.
Since the sale of the Agra Diamond, a cushion-shaped fancy light pink diamond of 32.24 carats for £4.07M ($6.95M) at Christie'’s in London on June 20th 1990 there have rarely been any pink Golconda diamonds offered at auction.
At 10.14 carats, this old mine-cut light pink diamond is then a truly rare stone to appear for sale at auction. Cut in typical Mughal fashion, it has a crown that is deeper than its pavillion which suggests that it was worn at one time with it’s pavillion facing up, probably as part of an impressive Mughal jewel.
Accompanied by its characteristic limpid transparency and a soft pink hue, it is a true Golconda gem, a diamond of the first water!