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Special to the tribune
Nizam’s diamond goes for $39m at NY auction
Shyam Bhatia in London

A legendary pink diamond that once belonged to the Nizam has been sold for more than $39 million by Christie’s in New York.

Originating from the ancient Golconda mines in Andhra Pradesh, where the most beautiful stones were always reserved for kings and rulers, the pink “Princie” diamond has set a new record for any jewel sold by Christie’s, surpassing the 2008 sale of the Wittelsback diamond that changed hands for $24.3 million.

Prince of jewels The pink ‘Princie’ originates from the ancient Golconda mines in Andhra Pradesh Named in honour of 14-yr-old Prince of Baroda, son of Maharani Sita Devi Was first sold at a London auction in 1960 for $ 1.3 million Becomes costliest jewel sold by Christie’s, surpassing the 2008 sale of Wittelsback diamond for $24.3 m

Commenting on the Princie’s sale, Christie’s head of jewellery Rahul Kadakia commented: “One of the largest and finest pink diamonds in the world, the Princie, carries a fabulous provenance, which brings together the legendary names of Golconda, Nizam of Hyderabad and Maharani Sita Devi of Baroda.

“The most beautiful stones discovered in Golconda were always reserved for kings and rulers as they represented the highest power. It was a widely regarded belief that God’s gift to India became India’s gift to mankind and the ‘Princie’ is undoubtedly one of the greatest gifts of Golconda.”

The diamond described as a “cushion cut sparkler” was first sold at a London auction in 1960 for $ 1.3 million.

Golconda is world’s earliest known diamond mine, producing diamonds from as early as 800 BC, including the Blue Hope and the Dresden Green. Two other pink diamonds discovered there, the Darya-i-Nur and the Nur-ul-Ain, subsequently became part of the Iranian crown jewels.

The 17th century traveller, Jean Baptist Tavernier, established that both Darya-i-Nur and Nur ul-Ain were actually cut from a single stone weighing over 242 carats. Tavernier dubbed this huge stone as ‘The Great Table’.