Orlov Diamond
The Orlov Diamond, sometimes referred as Orloff is a 189,62 carats diamond in a shape and proportions of half a hen's egg. The diamond which is among other also notable for its original Indian rose-style cut is part of the collection of the Diamond Fund that is stored and displayed in Moscow Kremlin, Russia.
Like many other significant diamonds, the Orlov Diamond also originates from India.
Its early history is mostly unknown but it is widely believed that the Orlov Diamond
was mounted in the eye of a Hindu goddess in Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple of Srirangam
in South India. From there the diamond was supposedly stolen by a French deserter
who converted to Hinduism and visited the temple to worship. He then fled to Madras
and sold it to the unknown buyer. Afterwards the Orlov Diamond passed from one owner
to another until it was acquired by Safras, an Armenian merchant who sold it to
Count Grigory Grigorievich Orlov who is known for his affair with Catherine the
Great of Russia. When the Russian Empress ended the affair and got romantically
involved with Grigori Alexandrovich Potemkin, Count Orlov tried to win her back and
offered her many precious gifts including the diamond. Catherine the Great rejected
to take him back but she accepted his gifs including the diamond and named it after
after her former lover. Later, she had the diamond mounted into the scepter known as
the Imperial Scepter.