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Famous Diamonds in the World The Begum blue Diamond
The Begum blue Diamond
Origin of name
The "Begum Blue" diamond was the asset of Princess Salima Aga Khan (formerly Sarah Croker Poole), the consort of His Royal Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV. The wife of the Aga Khan was formally referred to as Begum Salima Aga Khan or just as Her Highness the Begum. The label begum which looks to be of Persian source, is regularly used to refer to a Muslim woman of high ranking place in the Indian Sub-continent that includes India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Therefore the name "Begum Blue" appears to have been stimulated by the title Begum connected with the wife of his highness the Aga Khan.
Characteristics of the stone
The "Begum Blue" diamond is a fancy deep blue, 13.78-carat, heart-shaped diamond of mysterious clarity rating. Under the GIA color grading scale the highest color ranking is fancy vivid. The phrase fancy deep is not used by the GIA. In all prospect consequently the color grading of the "Begum Blue" diamond is fancy vivid blue according to the GIA color grading scale.
List of famous blue diamonds in the World
| S.N | Name | Carat Weight | Color |
| 1. | Hope diamond | 45.52 | fancy dark grayish blue |
| 2. | Tereschenko | 42.92 | fancy blue |
| 3. | Wittelsbach | 35.56 | fancy intense blue |
| 4. | Sultan of Morocco | 35.27 | fancy grayish blue |
| 5. | The Blue Heart | 30.82 | fancy intense blue |
| 6. | The Heart of Eternity | 27.64 | fancy vivid blue |
| 7. | Transvaal Blue | 25.00 | unknown color grade |
| 8. | The Blue Empress | 14.00 | unknown color grade |
| 9. | The Begum Blue | 13.78 | fancy vivid blue |
| 10. | The Blue Magic | 12.02 | fancy vivid blue |
| 11. | Graff Blue | 6.19 | fancy blue |
History of the diamond
The early history of the diamond such as the state of origin, date of discovery, mine of origin, unique owners of the diamond, the persons or company occupied in the cutting of the diamond, etc are all mysterious. But known the truth that the diamond was not element of the jewels and jewelry that had stayed behind in the Aga Khan's family for a long period, but was a modern present by the Aga Khan to Princess Salima Aga Khan after their wedding in 1969, explains that the diamond is of new origin and in all prospect had initiated in the Premier Diamond Mines of South Africa, the key foundation of high value blue diamonds in the world in the 20th century.
The majority of the jewelry gifted by Prince Karim Aga Khan to his wife Princess Salima Aga Khan, was particularly planned for her by the best designers of the world, who had a pathway record of designing beautiful jewelry for the well-known royal families around the world, such as Harry Winston, Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Boucheron, Tiffany-Schlumberger, Buccellati and Marina B. The "Begum Blue" diamond is the center of an elegantly designed diamond pendant necklace that also contains 41 other heart-shaped smaller diamonds. A second internally flawless, D-color, 16.04-carat, heart-shaped diamond is balanced from the "Begum Blue." The accurate designers of this wonderful piece of jewelry have not been recognized, but alleged to be one of the best designers.
The collection of jewelry put together by Princess Salima Aga Khan during her 25 years of marriage to Prince Karim Aga Khan, that lasted from 1969 to 1994, was said to be one of the most extravagant collections of jewelry ever assembled. Judging by the value of the gifts showered on the princess by Prince Karim Aga Khan, the marriage indeed must have been a happy one, producing three children, Princess Zahra, Prince Rahim, and Prince Hussain. But, unfortunately the marriage ended up in divorce in 1995.
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