Regent Diamond

The Regent Diamond, commonly known as the Pitt Diamond was discovered in a mine in India. The history of the Regent Diamond stores greed, murder and remorse of several helpless lives. The 410 carat stone was found by a slave at a Golconda mine in 1698. The poor slave hid the stone inside the bandage of the large wound on his leg and escaped to the seacoast. Unfortunately an English sea captain traced it and stole the stone by killing him.

The captain sold the stone to Jamchund, an Indian diamond merchant for near about $5000. Governor of Ft. George in Madras, Thomas Pitt purchased the stone from the merchant in 1702 for $100,000. Thomas Pitt was the grandfather of the very famous American Revolutionist named William Pitt. William transported the stone to England for styling.

The Regent Diamond is a cushion shaped brilliant cut diamond that weighs around 140.50 carat. The approximate measurement of the stone is 32mm x 34mm x 25mm. It took two long years to mould the stone into the fascinating Regent Diamond which is considered to be the one of the finest cut diamonds that exists. The diamond is white in color with a faint blue tinge.

With 16 days of constant effort the Premier Rose Diamond finally received its current peThe Diamond got its name after it was purchased by Philip II of Orleans (Regent of France) in 1717. At first the Regent Diamond was placed in the crown of Louis XV in 1723. Later it was removed from the crown and was worn by the Queen. The Royal Family possessed the diamond for two generations. The Regent Diamond was mounted in the hilt of the sword of Napoleon in 1804.

The Regent Diamond was exhibited at the Louvre Museum in 1887. In 1962 the stone was again exhibited at the “Ten Centuries of French Jewelry” exhibition held in Louvre. The Regent Diamond is still preserved and displayed at the Louvre Museum “Apollon Gallery”.