The Orlov diamond is a large and famous diamond, currently part of the collection of the Diamond Fund of the Moscow Kremlin in Russia. It is renowned for its substantial size, unique cut, and intriguing history involving emperors, lovers, and alleged temple theft.
History
The exact early history of the Orlov diamond is shrouded in legend and speculation, but it is widely believed to have originated in the Golconda mines of India in the 17th century.
- Indian Origin: According to one popular but unverified account, the diamond was originally part of the eye of an idol in a temple (possibly the Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam) in southern India. It was allegedly stolen by a French deserter in the mid-18th century, who sold it for a meager sum after his treacherous act.
- Passage Through Merchants: After changing hands multiple times through various European merchants, including a British sea captain, the diamond eventually came into the possession of an Armenian merchant named Khojas (sometimes spelled Khovans or Lazarew).
- Count Orlov's Acquisition: In 1774, the diamond was purchased by Count Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov, a former lover and advisor to Empress Catherine the Great of Russia. He reportedly paid 400,000 Russian rubles (or approximately £90,000 sterling at the time, a vast sum) in Amsterdam. Orlov intended the diamond as a gift to Catherine, hoping to regain her favour after their relationship had cooled.
- Gift to Catherine the Great: Catherine the Great accepted the gift, named the diamond after Count Orlov, and had it set into the Imperial Sceptre of Russia, which she commissioned for her coronation. The sceptre became a symbol of Russian imperial power.
Characteristics
The Orlov diamond is notable for several distinctive features:
- Weight: It weighs approximately 189.62 carats (37.924 g), making it one of the largest diamonds in the world.
- Cut: The diamond exhibits a unique Mughal-style rose-cut, often described as a modified old-mine brilliant or a high cabochon cut. Its dome-like, cushion shape is typical of diamonds cut in India during that period. It retains much of its original Indian cutting style.
- Color and Clarity: It is generally described as a pure white diamond with a faint bluish-green tint, or sometimes simply as exceptionally pure white. It is also noted for its high degree of clarity.
- Setting: Since 1784, the Orlov diamond has been prominently set into the head of the Imperial Sceptre of Russia, positioned between two rows of diamonds, topped by a double-headed eagle.
Current Status
The Orlov diamond remains a key part of the Russian state regalia. It is preserved and displayed as part of the permanent collection of the Diamond Fund (Almazny Fond) at the Kremlin Armoury Museum in Moscow, Russia, where it continues to be one of the most celebrated exhibits.
Legends and Theories
A persistent theory, though largely unsupported by definitive evidence, suggests that the Orlov diamond is actually one of the missing pieces of the legendary "Great Mughal Diamond." The Great Mughal Diamond, last seen in the possession of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century, was described by the French gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. While the Orlov shares some physical characteristics and approximate historical timing with descriptions of the Great Mughal, significant discrepancies in weight and shape have led most gemological experts to conclude that they are not the same stone, though they may have originated from the same rough material.