The Williamson pink diamond is a flawless pink diamond worn by Princess Elizabeth on her wedding day and part of the Royal Collection.
History
editThe diamond was discovered at the Williamson diamond mine in Tanganyika in 1947. The owner of the mine, Canadian geologist John Williamson gave the uncut stone to Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip upon their wedding in November 1947.[1][2]
The 54.5 carats (10.90 g) rough diamond was cut by London diamond cutters Briefel and Lemer in 1948, and Cartier was commissioned to create a setting for the main 23.6 carats (4.72 g) round brilliant cut diamond.[3]
The pink diamond became the main feature of a brooch designed by Frederick Mew of Cartier in 1952, forming the centre of a flower with five petals, with white 203 diamonds forming the petals and white baguette cut diamonds as the stalk.[3][4]
In 2022, its value was estimated at $33.9 million.[3] In 2022, a similar pink diamond from the same mine but half the size (11.15 carats) was sold at an auction for $57.7 million.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Patricia Treble (31 May 2012). "One of the Queen's favourite brooches has Canadian roots". Macleans.ca.
- ^ "Williamson diamond brooch". Royal Collection Trust. Inventory no. 200146.
- ^ a b c Jack Slater (20 February 2022). "Fascinating history behind the Queen's $34 million Williamson pink diamond brooch". Woman and Home Magazine. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "The Williamson Diamond Brooch: the Royal Collection". Royalcollection.org.uk. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007.
- ^ DeMarco, Anthony. "11.15-Carat Williamson Pink Star Diamond Fetches $57.7 Million, A World Record Price". Forbes. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
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