Dresden Green Diamond
The Dresden Green Diamond is a 41 carats natural green diamond. It was named after the city of Dresden, the capital of Saxony, Germany where it has been on display for more than two centuries. The diamond is famous for being the largest natural green diamond in the world. Currently it is on display in the museum Green Vault in Dresden, Germany.
The Dresden Green Diamond is notable for its dark green color which is a result of its exposure to radioactive elements at some point. The earliest record of the diamond dates to the 18th century when a London news-sheet reported that London diamond merchant Marcus Moses brought it from India and showed it to King George I. Later records refer that the diamond was offered to Augustus II the Strong, Elector of Saxony, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania who founded the Green Vault, a group of rooms in the Dresden Castle which housed his collection of jewels and other treasures. However, Augustus II the Strong did not purchased the diamond but his son, Augustus III did and became the first royal owner of the Dresden Green Diamond in 1741 or 1742. Augustus III had it mounted in the Golden Fleece along with the Dresden White Diamond of 49,71 carats.
The Dresden Castle and the Green Vault rooms were severely damaged during the World War II, while the treasures including the Dresden Green Diamond were seized by the Soviet army in 1945. However, the Soviet Union returned it to Germany in 1958.