Briolette of India
The Briolette of India is a colorless diamond of 90,38 carats and is cut in a shape of a briolette. The Briolette of India has a rich history, while the earliest records that mention the colorless diamond date back to the 12th century what makes it the oldest diamond on record in the world.
The earliest records of the diamond date from the 12th century when it came in
possession of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen consort of Louis VII of France from 1137
to 1152. Only six weeks after annulment of her marriage with Louis VII of France she
married Henry II of England and took the diamond with her in England. The diamond
was later acquired by Richard the Lionheart who succeeded his father as King of
England in 1189 and took it with him to the Third Crusade. However, after Richard's
death the Briolette of India disappears from historical records until the late 16th
century when Henry II of France presented it to his mistress Diane de Poitiers. On
Henry's death his queen consort forced Diane de Poitiers to give her all the jewels
that she had received from Henry II but it is not known if the jewels she
surrendered also included the Brionette of India because the diamond disappeared
from history until the 1950's when it came in possession of American jeweler Harry
Winston who acquired it from an Indian Maharajah. However, the Brionette of India
turned out to be a South African gem discovered in the late 19th century and cut in
Paris in 1908-09. Current owner of the diamond is unknown but it is believed that
Brionette of India is in possession of an European family.