Jacob Diamond
Encyclopedia
The Jacob Diamond is a large diamond
, ranked seventh in the world, known earlier as the Imperial or Great White Diamond. It is believed to be the Victoria Diamond, owned by the Nizam
of Hyderabad
and currently owned by the Government of India
.
It is cut
in a rectangular cushion-cut, with 58 facet
s, and measures 39.5 mm long, 29.25 mm wide and 22.5 mm deep. The diamond weighs 184.5 carats (36.90 g).
Unlike the famous Koh-i-Noor
, the Jacob diamond can be branded as a nonviolent diamond, one which has changed hands only twice in the history of its existence. However, it only came into the possession of India after its forcible annexation of the Nizam's state.
.
Before it was sent to Europe to be cut, the uncut diamond is believed to have been over 400 carats (80 g) in weight. The diamond was put up for sale in 1891 by Alexander Malcom Jacob, whence the name. It was offered to Mahbub Ali Khan
, the Nizam
of Hyderabad. Initially, however, the Nizam was quite uninterested in the diamond and offered a mere 46 lakhs (4 million) Rupees for it. The Nizam was asked to make a good faith deposit if he was to go through with the transaction. The European jewel cutters did not like this offer, but were forced into court when they lost track of the Nizam's deposit. Ultimately, the Nizam was awarded the diamond for almost half of his original offer, 23 lakhs (2.2 million) Rupees (approx. $50,000 by 2005 rates) when the case was resolved.
Nevertheless, the Nizam still showed little interest in the diamond and for many years was used as a paper weight by the last Nizam. This continued until the diamond's true value was realized and it was stored away as another of the Nizam's treasures.
After much litigation, the diamond was forcibly purchased by the government of India from the Nizam's trust for an estimated $13 million in 1995, along with other Jewels of The Nizams
, and is held at the Reserve Bank of India
, Mumbai
.
As part of the Nizam's jewellery exhibition in 2002 and 2007, the Jacob diamond was a major attraction at Salar Jung Museum
, Hyderabad.
Diamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
, ranked seventh in the world, known earlier as the Imperial or Great White Diamond. It is believed to be the Victoria Diamond, owned by the Nizam
Nizam
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...
of Hyderabad
Hyderabad State
-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
and currently owned by the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
.
It is cut
Diamond cut
A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
in a rectangular cushion-cut, with 58 facet
Facet
Facets are flat faces on geometric shapes. The organization of naturally occurring facets was key to early developments in crystallography, since they reflect the underlying symmetry of the crystal structure...
s, and measures 39.5 mm long, 29.25 mm wide and 22.5 mm deep. The diamond weighs 184.5 carats (36.90 g).
Unlike the famous Koh-i-Noor
Koh-i-Noor
The Kōh-i Nūr which means "Mountain of Light" in Persian, also spelled Koh-i-noor, Koh-e Noor or Koh-i-Nur, is a 105 carat diamond that was once the largest known diamond in the world. The Kōh-i Nūr originated in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India along with its double, the Darya-ye Noor...
, the Jacob diamond can be branded as a nonviolent diamond, one which has changed hands only twice in the history of its existence. However, it only came into the possession of India after its forcible annexation of the Nizam's state.
History
It was several years after the death of his father that the last Nizam, Osman Ali Khan, found the Jacob Diamond in the toe of his father’s shoe at Chowmahalla PalaceChowmahalla Palace
Chowmahalla Palace or Chowmahallat , was a palace belonging to the Nizams of Hyderabad state. It was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and was the official residence of the Nizam....
.
Before it was sent to Europe to be cut, the uncut diamond is believed to have been over 400 carats (80 g) in weight. The diamond was put up for sale in 1891 by Alexander Malcom Jacob, whence the name. It was offered to Mahbub Ali Khan
Mahbub Ali Khan, Asif Jah VI
-External links:*...
, the Nizam
Nizam
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...
of Hyderabad. Initially, however, the Nizam was quite uninterested in the diamond and offered a mere 46 lakhs (4 million) Rupees for it. The Nizam was asked to make a good faith deposit if he was to go through with the transaction. The European jewel cutters did not like this offer, but were forced into court when they lost track of the Nizam's deposit. Ultimately, the Nizam was awarded the diamond for almost half of his original offer, 23 lakhs (2.2 million) Rupees (approx. $50,000 by 2005 rates) when the case was resolved.
Nevertheless, the Nizam still showed little interest in the diamond and for many years was used as a paper weight by the last Nizam. This continued until the diamond's true value was realized and it was stored away as another of the Nizam's treasures.
After much litigation, the diamond was forcibly purchased by the government of India from the Nizam's trust for an estimated $13 million in 1995, along with other Jewels of The Nizams
Jewels of The Nizams
The Jewels of the Nizams of Hyderabad State are the largest and richest collection of jewels in India. The jewels belonged to the Nizams. After merger of their kingdom, the Nizam and his heirs were barred by the Indian government from removing the collection, claiming it was a national treasure...
, and is held at the Reserve Bank of India
Reserve Bank of India
The Reserve Bank of India is the central banking institution of India and controls the monetary policy of the rupee as well as US$300.21 billion of currency reserves. The institution was established on 1 April 1935 during the British Raj in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of...
, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
.
As part of the Nizam's jewellery exhibition in 2002 and 2007, the Jacob diamond was a major attraction at Salar Jung Museum
Salar Jung Museum
The Salar Jung Museum is an art museum located at Darushifa, on the southern bank of the Musi river in the city of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India...
, Hyderabad.