In a stunning turn of events that has captivated historians and jewelry experts worldwide, the legendary Florentine Diamond has been found. The 137.27-carat, lemon-yellow gemstone, a historical centerpiece of the Habsburg dynasty’s crown jewels, resurfaced in a Canadian bank vault, solving a mystery that has endured for over a century.
The Florentine Diamond boasts a storied and tumultuous history. Believed to have originated in India, its path through European royalty is the stuff of legend. It eventually became a prized possession of the powerful Habsburg family, who ruled the Austro-Hungarian Empire for centuries. The diamond was last seen in 1918, in the possession of Emperor Charles I of Austria. Following the collapse of the empire after World War I, the imperial family went into exile, and the magnificent jewel vanished without a trace.
For the next 100 years, the fate of the Florentine Diamond was a complete mystery. Theories abounded: was it stolen and re-cut to hide its famous identity? Was it secretly sold to a private collector? Or was it safely hidden away, waiting for the right moment to reappear? Gemologists and historians feared the world had lost a significant piece of history forever.
The confirmation that the diamond was securely held in a bank vault in Canada ends this long-standing speculation. While details about how it ended up there are still emerging, its discovery in its original form is being hailed as a monumental event in the world of gemology.
The rediscovery of the Florentine Diamond is not just the closing of a historical cold case; it is the beginning of a new chapter. The immediate questions now turn to provenance and ownership. As a former state jewel of a defunct empire, claims to its ownership could become a complex international issue. For now, the world watches in anticipation to see what will become of the legendary Habsburg gem that was lost to time but has, against all odds, returned to the light.
Image Referance: https://www.euronews.com/2025/11/06/habsburg-familys-florentine-diamond-found-in-bank-vault-after-a-century