Moon of Baroda Diamond

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The Gaekwads of Baroda have long been identified as the connoisseurs of fine jewels and precious diamonds. Thus, it almost doesn’t come as surprise when one associates the famous  fancy yellow diamond “The Moon of Baroda” with the Gaekwads.

The Journey :

Along with the “Star of the South” and the “English Dresden”, the diamond called “The Moon of Baroda” was also a part of Gaekwadi treasury. It is said that the 24.04 carat, pear shaped diamond was the part of Gaekwadi treasury for almost 500 years before being sent to Austria only to be returned later. In Austria it was worn by Empress Maria Theresa, the first and only female monarch of the Hapsburg Dynasty.

After some years of being returned to the Gaekwads, it was set in a necklace during the 1860s. It was finally sold by Maharaja Sayajrao Gaekwad III to an anonymous buyer, in the 1920s. After this it resurfaced in the 1940s and was bought by by Meyer Rosenbaum of Detroit , in 1943. 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’.

In 1990, the diamond was offered at Christie’s in New York, realising $297,000 — nearly tripling its low estimate. Eighteen years later, in 2008, it was seen in public for the first time in years when it was shown at the Diamond Divas exhibition in Antwerp. Most recently the “Moon of Baroda” diamond was officially sold at Christie’s Hong Kong jewelry auction for $1.3 million.

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Just like every other famous diamond in India, the Moon of Baroda also has been associated with a myth. It was said that, this diamond will bring bad luck to it’s owner if it crosses the seas. Thus, this diamond also has had it’s share of famous people, myths and of course the royalty !!!

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Connecting people to Sayaji Nagri - #Vadodara (#Baroda)'s History & Heritage...

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