The Princie Diamond – which will be auctioned 16 April by Christie’s New York – is a 34.65-carat fancy intense pink cushion-cut diamond whose origins can be traced back to the ancient mines of Golconda in south central India.
The stone has a rich history, having been recorded as initially belonging to the royal family of Hyderabad, who ruled one of the wealthiest provinces of the Mughal Empire.
The diamond was originally put up for auction by the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1960 and was bought by the London branch of Van Cleef & Arpels for £46,000. The stone was christened the “Princie” in honour of the 14-year-old Prince of Baroda who attended a party at Van Cleef’s Paris store.
“One of the largest and finest pink diamonds in the world, the Princie Diamond carries a fabulous provenance, which brings together the legendary names of Golconda, Nizam of Hyderabad and the Maharani Sita Devi of Baroda,” chairman of Christie’s jewellery department François Curiel said.
“This rich history, combined with its rare pink hue, conveys a special charm, which will speak to all collectors in the world seeking the best of the best in gemstones.”
The Princie Diamond is part of Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction, which features almost 300 jewellery items including coloured and colourless diamonds, rare gemstones, natural pearls and signed vintage jewellery from the “best houses”.