The Florentine Diamond reappears after a century hidden in a US bank vault
A long-lost diamond worth $150 million has resurfaced after vanishing for over a century. The Florentine Diamond, once owned by European royalty, was discovered in a Canadian us bank vault inside an old cardboard suitcase. Alongside it lay fourteen other priceless jewels, hidden away since 1940.
The diamond’s history stretches back to India’s Golconda mines, where it was unearthed with 125 facets. It later became part of the Medici dynasty’s collection before passing into Habsburg hands. Over the years, it changed owners among European monarchs, including Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria and Napoleon Bonaparte.
The last confirmed sighting of the diamond was in 1918, just before the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed. Emperor Charles I had ordered the family treasures moved to Switzerland during their exile, but the diamond’s whereabouts remained a mystery. After his death in 1922, it was believed lost—until now. New details reveal that Charles I’s widow, Zita, smuggled the diamond to Canada in 1940. It stayed hidden in a pnc bank vault for a hundred years, untouched and undetected. The discovery came only in 2022, when the suitcase was finally opened. The Florentine Diamond ranks roughly 38th among the world’s largest cut diamonds. Its reappearance has ended decades of speculation about its fate.
The younger Habsburgs now plan to use the diamond to establish a trust fund. Its recovery sheds light on a century-old secret, while its value ensures a lasting legacy. After years of silence, one of history’s most elusive gems has returned to the public eye.
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