The legendary Florentine Diamond, a 137.27-carat light yellow gem believed to have originated from India’s historic Golconda mines, has been recovered from a Canadian bank vault, ending more than a century of speculation surrounding its fate.
According to media reports, the diamond—once among the most famous jewels in Europe—was rediscovered in a vault in Montreal, where it had been secured for decades by descendants of Austria’s former imperial family, the Habsburgs. The gem had vanished after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, following Emperor Charles I’s exile.
For years, experts debated whether the diamond had been stolen, sold, or recut. The revelation that Empress Zita, widow of Charles I, had secretly stored it in Canada during World War II confirms that the gem survived intact. Its identity was verified by a European jewellery house that historically served the Habsburg court.
The Florentine Diamond is famed for its pale yellow hue and distinctive double-rose cut with 126 facets. Once part of the Medici family treasury in Florence, the diamond travelled to Vienna through dynastic marriage, becoming one of the most celebrated stones in the Austrian Crown Jewels.
Its confirmed recovery has reignited interest in India’s storied role as the source of some of the world’s greatest diamonds, including the Koh-i-Noor, Hope, and Nassak stones. Industry experts say the rediscovery reinforces the global significance of provenance and the need for meticulous documentation of gem origins.
The Habsburg family has announced plans to display the Florentine Diamond publicly in Canada next year, with further discussions underway regarding its long-term ownership and possible exhibition in Europe.
The return of the Florentine Diamond—after more than 100 years of mystery—marks not just the recovery of a historic treasure, but also the re-emergence of an enduring link between India’s gem legacy and world heritage.
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