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Immediately following the sale, Graff announced his intention to recut the gem to remove damage to the [[Culet|girdle]] and enhance the color.<ref> GemWise; World Famous Wittelsbach Sells at Auction: http://gemwiseblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2009/01/really-blues-hope-wittelsbach-diamonds.html</ref><ref name=cnn>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Diamond sells for recession-busting $24.3 M |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/12/11/diamond.record/index.html?iref=mpstoryview |quote= The diamond has a royal lineage. Christie's traces it thus: King Philip IV of Spain (1605-1665) selected the diamond in 1664 as part of a [[dowry]] for his daughter, the Infanta Margarita Teresa (1651-1673). She had become engaged to Leopold I of Austria (1640-1705), who later became Holy Roman Emperor. When she died in 1673, her husband retained the diamond, which was passed on to his heirs. In 1722, the diamond entered the Wittelsbach family when the Archduchess Maria Amalia of Austria (1701-1756) married the Bavarian Crown Prince, Charles Albert (1697-1745). It was worn by successive rulers until the abdication of King Ludwig III (1845-1921) in 1918. |work=[[CNN]] |date=2008 |accessdate=2008-12-11 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/245562,historic-diamond-fetches-16-million-pounds-at-london-auction.html ''The Earth Times''- Historic diamond fetches 16 million pounds at London auction. 10 December 2008.] Retrieved 10 December, 2008 </ref>
Immediately following the sale, Graff announced his intention to recut the gem to remove damage to the [[Culet|girdle]] and enhance the color.<ref> GemWise; World Famous Wittelsbach Sells at Auction: http://gemwiseblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2009/01/really-blues-hope-wittelsbach-diamonds.html</ref><ref name=cnn>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Diamond sells for recession-busting $24.3 M |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/12/11/diamond.record/index.html?iref=mpstoryview |quote= The diamond has a royal lineage. Christie's traces it thus: King Philip IV of Spain (1605-1665) selected the diamond in 1664 as part of a [[dowry]] for his daughter, the Infanta Margarita Teresa (1651-1673). She had become engaged to Leopold I of Austria (1640-1705), who later became Holy Roman Emperor. When she died in 1673, her husband retained the diamond, which was passed on to his heirs. In 1722, the diamond entered the Wittelsbach family when the Archduchess Maria Amalia of Austria (1701-1756) married the Bavarian Crown Prince, Charles Albert (1697-1745). It was worn by successive rulers until the abdication of King Ludwig III (1845-1921) in 1918. |work=[[CNN]] |date=2008 |accessdate=2008-12-11 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/245562,historic-diamond-fetches-16-million-pounds-at-london-auction.html ''The Earth Times''- Historic diamond fetches 16 million pounds at London auction. 10 December 2008.] Retrieved 10 December, 2008 </ref>


On 7 January, 2010, it was reported that the diamond had been recut to enhance the stone's color and clarity, losing over {{convert|4.45|carat|g}} in the process. The resulting stone has been renamed the Wittlesbach-Graff. The move was met with heavy criticism by some experts: [[Gabriel Tolkowsky]] called it "the end of culture."<ref name=schulz/> The alteration of the historical stone has been compared by Professor Hans Ottomeyer, Director of the [[Deutsches Historisches Museum]] of Berlin, to the overpainting of a painting by Rembrandt. It is opined that the recutting was done to increase its market value and, by extension, that of other "fancy diamonds".<ref name=schulz/> As a result of the recut, the gem had been reevaluated by the [[Gemological Institute of America]] and its color grade revised from Fancy Deep Grayish Blue, the same grade given by GIA to The Hope, to the more desirable Fancy Deep Blue. The diamond’s clarity had also been revised upward, from Very Slightly Included (VS1) to Internally flawless (IF).
On 7 January, 2010, it was reported that the diamond had been recut to enhance the stone's color and clarity, losing over {{convert|4.45|carat|g}} in the process. The resulting stone has been renamed the Wittlesbach-Graff. The move was met with heavy criticism by some experts: [[Gabriel Tolkowsky]] called it "the end of culture."<ref name=schulz/> American gem cutter and replicator of famous diamonds Scott Sucher stated "In the case of the Wittelsbach, what's at stake is at minimum over 350 years of history, as every nick, chip, and scratch has a story to tell. Just because we can’t decipher these stories doesn’t mean they don’t exist."<ref>http://www.museumdiamonds.com/~scottsuc/index.php/wittelsbach.html Scott Sucher's replica of the Wittelsbach</ref> The alteration of the historical stone has been compared by Professor Hans Ottomeyer, Director of the [[Deutsches Historisches Museum]] of Berlin, to the overpainting of a painting by Rembrandt. It is opined that the recutting was done to increase its market value and, by extension, that of other "fancy diamonds".<ref name=schulz/> As a result of the recut, the gem had been reevaluated by the [[Gemological Institute of America]] and its color grade revised from Fancy Deep Grayish Blue, the same grade given by GIA to The Hope, to the more desirable Fancy Deep Blue. The diamond’s clarity had also been revised upward, from Very Slightly Included (VS1) to Internally flawless (IF).


The two famous blue diamonds will be on view together at the [[Smithsonian Institution]] beginning the end of January 2010.<ref>{{cite web| publisher=GemWise | title=The Wittelsbach Diamond, All Tarted Up and Ready To Sell| url= http://rwwise.com/blog/?p=397}}</ref><ref name=NYTimes/>
The two famous blue diamonds will be on view together at the [[Smithsonian Institution]] beginning the end of January 2010.<ref>{{cite web| publisher=GemWise | title=The Wittelsbach Diamond, All Tarted Up and Ready To Sell| url= http://rwwise.com/blog/?p=397}}</ref><ref name=NYTimes/>

Revision as of 09:13, 9 April 2010

Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond
Weight31.06
ColorFancy Deep Blue
CutAntique oval stellar brilliant
Country of originIndia
Mine of originGolkonda
DiscoveredMid-1600s
Original ownerPhilip IV of Spain
OwnerLawrence Graff
Estimated value£16.4 million (December 2008)
The Wittelsbach Diamond in the Crown of Bavaria, just beneath the cross

The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond is a 31.06 carats (6.212 g) Fancy Deep Blue diamond with internally flawless clarity. Lawrence Graff purchased the Wittelsbach Diamond in 2008 for 16.4 million pounds Sterling. In 2010, Graff revealed he had had the diamond cut by three diamond cutters to remove flaws. The diamond was now more than four carats lighter and was renamed the Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond. There is controversy, as critics claim the recutting has altered the diamond as to make it unrecognizable,[1] that its historical integrity has been compromised.[2]

Wittelsbach Diamond

The original Wittelsbach Diamond, also known as Der Blaue Wittelsbacher,[3] was a 35.56-carat (7.112 g) Fancy Deep Grayish Blue diamond with VS2 clarity that had been part of both the Austrian and the Bavarian Crown jewels.[4]

Its color and clarity had been compared to the Hope Diamond.[citation needed] The diamond had measured 24.40 millimetres (0.961 in) in diameter and 8.29 millimetres (0.326 in) in depth. It had 82 facets arranged in an atypical pattern. The star facets on the crown were vertically split and the pavilion had sixteen needle-like facets, arranged in pairs, pointing outward from the culet facet.[5]

History

The diamond originates from the mines of the former Indian kingdom of Golkonda.[6] The story that King Philip IV of Spain purchased the jewel and included it in the dowry of his teenage daughter, Margaret Teresa, in 1664 is apocryphal. The first time the diamond was mentioned is about fifty years later when it was already in Vienna.[6]. It was in the possession of the Habsburg family and came to Munich when, in 1722, Maria Amalia married Charles of Bavaria, a member of the Wittelsbach family.[7][8]

In 1745, the Wittelsbach Diamond was first mounted on the Bavarian Order of the Golden Fleece. When Maximilian IV Joseph von Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806, he commissioned a royal crown, which prominently displayed the diamond. Until 1918, the jewel remained on the top of the Bavarian crown. It was seen last in public at Ludwig III of Bavaria's funeral in 1921.[4][8]

The Wittelsbach family tried to sell the diamond in 1931, during the Great Depression, but found no buyers. They eventually sold it in 1951.[citation needed] In 1958, the stone was shown at the World Expo in Brussels. In the 1960s, the Goldmuntz family asked Joseph Komkommer, a jeweler, to re-cut the diamond, but he recognized the historical significance of the stone and refused. Instead he, along with dealers, bought it.[9] The diamond had been in a private collection since 1964. [8] Later it became known that it was bought by Helmut Horten, who presented to his wife Heidi at their wedding.[6]

On 10 December 2008, the 35.56 carat Wittelsbach Diamond was sold to London-based jeweler Lawrence Graff for 16.4 million pounds Sterling, or US$23.4 million, the highest price ever paid at auction for a diamond.[citation needed]

Alteration

If you discovered a Leonardo da Vinci with a tear in it and covered in mud, you would want to repair it. We have similarly cleaned up the diamond and repaired damage caused over the years.

— Francois Graff[2]

Immediately following the sale, Graff announced his intention to recut the gem to remove damage to the girdle and enhance the color.[10][8][11]

On 7 January, 2010, it was reported that the diamond had been recut to enhance the stone's color and clarity, losing over 4.45 carats (0.890 g) in the process. The resulting stone has been renamed the Wittlesbach-Graff. The move was met with heavy criticism by some experts: Gabriel Tolkowsky called it "the end of culture."[6] American gem cutter and replicator of famous diamonds Scott Sucher stated "In the case of the Wittelsbach, what's at stake is at minimum over 350 years of history, as every nick, chip, and scratch has a story to tell. Just because we can’t decipher these stories doesn’t mean they don’t exist."[12] The alteration of the historical stone has been compared by Professor Hans Ottomeyer, Director of the Deutsches Historisches Museum of Berlin, to the overpainting of a painting by Rembrandt. It is opined that the recutting was done to increase its market value and, by extension, that of other "fancy diamonds".[6] As a result of the recut, the gem had been reevaluated by the Gemological Institute of America and its color grade revised from Fancy Deep Grayish Blue, the same grade given by GIA to The Hope, to the more desirable Fancy Deep Blue. The diamond’s clarity had also been revised upward, from Very Slightly Included (VS1) to Internally flawless (IF).

The two famous blue diamonds will be on view together at the Smithsonian Institution beginning the end of January 2010.[13][1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b NYTimes.com- Recut and Renamed Wittels Diamond to Face Public and Critics. January 6, 2010. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "World's most famous 'unseen' diamond". BBC News. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  3. ^ "Der Blaue Wittelsbacher". Haute Living blog. hauteliving.com. November 4th, 2008. Retrieved 2010-01-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b Christie's Press Release. November 3, 2008. Retrieved December 11, 2008.
  5. ^ Wittelsbach Diamond from famousdiamonds.tripod.com/
  6. ^ a b c d e Schulz M (2010-01-25). "Schleifstein der Schande" (in German). Der Spiegel. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  7. ^ CBC News- Big blue diamond goes on display in London. December 5, 2008 Retrieved December 8, 2008
  8. ^ a b c d "Diamond sells for recession-busting $24.3 M". CNN. 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-11. The diamond has a royal lineage. Christie's traces it thus: King Philip IV of Spain (1605-1665) selected the diamond in 1664 as part of a dowry for his daughter, the Infanta Margarita Teresa (1651-1673). She had become engaged to Leopold I of Austria (1640-1705), who later became Holy Roman Emperor. When she died in 1673, her husband retained the diamond, which was passed on to his heirs. In 1722, the diamond entered the Wittelsbach family when the Archduchess Maria Amalia of Austria (1701-1756) married the Bavarian Crown Prince, Charles Albert (1697-1745). It was worn by successive rulers until the abdication of King Ludwig III (1845-1921) in 1918. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ The Times- Bavaria considers bid to bring mysterious Wittelsbach diamond home. November 7, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2008
  10. ^ GemWise; World Famous Wittelsbach Sells at Auction: http://gemwiseblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2009/01/really-blues-hope-wittelsbach-diamonds.html
  11. ^ The Earth Times- Historic diamond fetches 16 million pounds at London auction. 10 December 2008. Retrieved 10 December, 2008
  12. ^ http://www.museumdiamonds.com/~scottsuc/index.php/wittelsbach.html Scott Sucher's replica of the Wittelsbach
  13. ^ "The Wittelsbach Diamond, All Tarted Up and Ready To Sell". GemWise.
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