The History of the Yellow Diamond

The yellow diamond is a unique form of diamond that gets it's sunny color from the amount of nitrogen that is present when it's formation is happening in the Earth. The history around this stone is what makes it so special and gives it a legend worth considering when encountering it.

The history of the yellow diamond is dominated by the story of one 55 carat stone named The Sancy. The claim is that The Sancy was brought from India and then Charles, Duke of Burgundy lost it in a battle field. In the end of the 16th century Nicholas Harlai of Sancy bought this diamond in Constantinople making him the first verified owner of this fascinating stone. That is how it then got it's name as The Sancy.

The Sancy Diamond was later loaned to King Henry III of France and King Henry IV of France. It was sold to the English Crown then purchased back to the French Crown by James II. The drama does not stop there. It was then used to pay an unpaid loan, purchased by a Cardinal, inherited by the French Crown and then stolen from the French Crown. It was part the Napoleon court, was bought by a merchant from Bombay and exhibited in the 1867 Paris Exhibition. In 1906 The Sancy Diamond made its way to America to be worn in the wedding tiara of Lady Astor. In 1978 The Sancy Diamond was sold and returned to France. The Sancy can now be seen in its permanent home in the Louvre.

Another figure in the history of the yellow diamond is a stone known as The Tiffany. The Tiffany is a massive 287 carat golden-yellow diamond. It is claimed to have been found in South Africa in 1887. It was then sold to Tiffany jewelers for $18,000. They are still the current owners of this spectacular jewel. This incredible stone has been on display in many famous exhibitions including the Kimberly Mine's centennial celebration and the World's Fair in 1939. It was set into a necklace in 1957 for the Tiffany Ball. Audrey Hepburn wore this dazzling necklace in the famous movie, Breakfast at Tiffany's. In 1960 The Tiffany was made into a sculpture called 'Bird on a Rock'. The Tiffany Yellow Diamond can be seen today at Tiffany 5th Avenue in New York.
Today the yellow diamond in general can be seen as a trendy choice of decorative jewelry worn by our beloved stars and celebrities. This follows a tradition that this stone has carried with it since the beginning of its history in the modern world.



To learn more about diamonds, you can visit these sites:
Sancy Yellow Diamond | Tiffany Diamond | Famous Diamonds | Blood Diamonds