The Archduke Joseph Diamond

 The Archduke Joseph Diamond is named after an earlier owner, Archduke Joseph August. In 1936 a European banker purchased the Archduke Joseph Diamond, it then weighed seventy-eight point fifty-four carats. Until June of 1961 the location of the diamond was unknown; it appeared in London at an auction. However, it was not sold because the highest bid was not enough money for the valuable Archduke Joseph Diamond; the diamond was thought to be the biggest diamond of loose, fine quality at the time. In November of 1993, the Archduke Joseph appeared at a sale in Geneva at Christie’s and sold for $6,487,945. The diamond was later recut to seventy-six point forty-five carats by Molina Fine Jewelers in the late 1990’s. The Archduke Joseph Diamond is colorless and is a rectangular cushion shape. The diamond is of an Indian origin; it was discovered in the Golconda Mines located in India. Most diamonds discovered at the Golconda Mines were significant because of their clearness. It is graded by the GIA as Internally Flawless and is certified D-color because of its extreme inner clearness. The Archduke Joseph Diamond has been ranked as the twelfth largest perfect white diamond in the world. Some prominent famous people including Laura Harring and Celine Dion have worn the Archduke Joseph. Each wore a necklace created by the owner of Molina Fine Jewelers, Alfredo Molina; the necklace featured the Archduke Joseph Diamond.