Coloured Diamonds

Legends and celluloid dreams

Since immemorial times, diamonds have been considered emblems of love, fearlessness, power and eternity. Diamonds have been a common focus of legends and notable pieces of fiction such as Ian Fleming’s “Diamonds are forever” and Scott Fitzgerald’s “the diamond is as big as the Ritz”. The Hollywood movie industry and its stars too have long had a love affair with diamonds. In the 1952 film “Tarzan’s Savage Fury”, Dorothy Hart who played Jane, wore the Transvaal diamond, a 68ct champagne stone. In ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ (1953) Marilyn Monroe sang ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend’ wearing the Moon of Baroda, a 25.95ct pear-shaped canary diamond.

The glamour stars of yesteryears, Lana Turner, Mae West and Marlene Dietrich, were rarely seen in public without their diamonds. Screen legend Elizabeth Taylor was renowned to have owned more diamonds than any other movie star. During her marriage to Richard Burton, she was offered a diamond-studded Iguana brooch, a flawless pear shaped Cartier, a Krupp diamond, and the Taylor heart, one of world’s largest engraved diamonds. (originally given by Emperor Shah Jahan to his wife Mumtaz).

Towards the end of 20th century, coloured diamonds suddenly began to draw attention. Around the time the Argyle mine in Western Australia began turning out Pink and Champagne diamonds, new cutting styles were bringing more fancy-coloured yellow diamonds into the marketplace.