Moon of Baroda
Encyclopedia
The Moon of Baroda is a 24.04 carats (4.8 g) cut diamond discovered in Vadodara
(Baroda), India. The diamond, canary yellow in colour, is cut in a pear shape. When found, the rough diamond weighed 25.95 carats (5.2 g). The Moon of Baroda was originally owned by the Maharajas of Baroda. The royal family
of Gaekwad
Maharajas was in possession of the diamond for almost 500 years. The gem was later worn by singer and actress Marilyn Monroe
and Empress Maria Theresa of Austria
.
diamond, weighing 24.04 carats (4.8 g).
A popular myth associated with the Moon of Baroda is that it brings bad luck to its owner if it is carried across the sea.
, the only female monarch of the Habsburg dynasty. The diamond was returned to the Gaekwad family later, and in 1860, it was fitted to a necklace
. The Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad sold it to an unknown buyer in the early 1920s.
The diamond resurfaced in the 1940s, in 1943, the diamond was purchased by Meyer Rosenbaum of Detroit, President of the Meyer Jewelry Company. Rosenbaum later gave the diamond to Marilyn Monroe
, who wore it for the shooting of the song Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend
, and also in the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The Moon of Baroda was displayed publicly in an exhibition in 1944.
In 2008, the Moon of Baroda was next displayed publicly at the exhibition 'Diamond Divas', organized by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre.
Vadodara
Vadodara formerly known as Baroda is the third most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat . It is one of the four cities with the population of over 1 million...
(Baroda), India. The diamond, canary yellow in colour, is cut in a pear shape. When found, the rough diamond weighed 25.95 carats (5.2 g). The Moon of Baroda was originally owned by the Maharajas of Baroda. The royal family
Royal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
of Gaekwad
Gaekwad
The Gaekwad or Gaikwad was a Maratha dynasty that ruled the princely state of Baroda in western India from the mid-18th century until 1947...
Maharajas was in possession of the diamond for almost 500 years. The gem was later worn by singer and actress Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
and Empress Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
.
Description
The Moon of Baroda weighed 25.95 carats (5.2 g) at the time it was found. It was later cut into a pear shapedPear shaped
Pear-shaped is a metaphorical term with several meanings, all in reference to the shape of a pear, i.e. tapering towards the top and rounded at the bottom....
diamond, weighing 24.04 carats (4.8 g).
A popular myth associated with the Moon of Baroda is that it brings bad luck to its owner if it is carried across the sea.
History
The Moon of Baroda was originally owned by the royal Gaekwad family, the Maharajas of Baroda. It was later sent by the Gaekwad family to Empress Maria Theresa of AustriaMaria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
, the only female monarch of the Habsburg dynasty. The diamond was returned to the Gaekwad family later, and in 1860, it was fitted to a necklace
Necklace
A necklace is an article of jewellery which is worn around the neck. Necklaces are frequently formed from a metal jewellery chain. Others are woven or manufactured from cloth using string or twine....
. The Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad sold it to an unknown buyer in the early 1920s.
The diamond resurfaced in the 1940s, in 1943, the diamond was purchased by Meyer Rosenbaum of Detroit, President of the Meyer Jewelry Company. Rosenbaum later gave the diamond to Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
, who wore it for the shooting of the song Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend
Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend
"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" is a song introduced by Carol Channing in the original Broadway production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes , which was written by Jule Styne and Leo Robin...
, and also in the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The Moon of Baroda was displayed publicly in an exhibition in 1944.
In 2008, the Moon of Baroda was next displayed publicly at the exhibition 'Diamond Divas', organized by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre.