INFOGIFT.INFO

 The crisis, the Armageddon, the recession: these are the words, which not always reflect the true meaning of the situation for everybody. When situation comes to something special, as in the case of Wittelsbach Diamond, the economic climate around doesn’t matter: this 35.56 carat grayish-blue diamond was sold at Christie’s for near $25 million and became the most expensive item of jewelry ever sold at an auction.

 
This extraordinary stone has an appropriate history, mystery and enough lores to sustain its price: came from India, at one time possessed by king Philip IV of Spain, been given as a dowry at the engagement of a Spanish princess Infanta Margarita Teresa, who, when little, was depicted as a central figure in the famous work of art “Las Meninas” (1656) by the famous painter, Spaniard Diego Velázquez; in the 18th century the diamond belonged to the Bavarian royal family…the stone been lost, found, coveted…

 
“But it has now broken the world record for any diamond sold at auction. The stone was purchased by Bond Street jeweller Laurence Graff.”
“According to the Gemological Institute of America, whose research was published in Christie’s catalog, the most famous colored diamond in the world is the 45.52-carat blue Hope diamond in the Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C. The 35.56-carat Wittelsbachdiamond rivals the Hope “in all attributes,” said the GIA.Today’s price exceeded the record of $16.5 million with fees paid for the 100.1-carat “Star of the Season” pear-shaped, colorless diamond at Sotheby’s, Geneva, in May 1995.”

 
Here is the  Video offered by Telegraph.co.uk about this diamond. 

 
For more info read an article from Telegraph.co.uk

 
Article from Bloomberg News.

 
Read the history and the lores of the Wittelsbach Diamond at: Famous Diamonds. 

 
See the painting “Las Meninas” by Velázquez and read about it at: Wikipedia.org 

 
Here is Christie’s page: www.Christies.com