Star of the East (diamond)
 | |
| Type of stone | Diamond |
|---|---|
| Weight | 94.80-carat (18.8 g) |
| Color | D-color |
| Cut | Pear |
| Country of origin | Unknown |
| Mine of origin | Unknown |
| Discovered | Unknown |
| Cut by | Unknown |
| Original owner | Unknown. Owners include Evalyn Walsh McLean and Harry Winston |
| Owner | Unknown |
| Estimated value | Unknown |
The "Star of the East" is a 94.80-carat (18.8 g), pear-shaped, D-color stone of unknown clarity grade.[1] The stone likely originated from one of the five groups of mines that were situated on the eastern side of the Deccan Plateau in southern and central India. Its Exact origin and year of discovery are unknown.[1] The diamond was part of the jewelry-loving Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Abd al-Hamid II's collection.[1]
The diamond was purchased in 1908 by Evalyn Walsh McLean, daughter of the multimillionaire miner and gold prospector Thomas Walsh, for 120,000 dollars from Pierre Cartier. When purchased, the diamond was mounted on a chain below a hexagonal emerald of 34 carats and a pearl of 32 grains.[2] The diamond was worn by McLean on occasion. McLean was also known for wearing another famous diamond, the Hope Diamond.
History
The Star of the East's exact origin is unknown. The stone first surfaced in the collection of the Sultan Abdul Hamid. Later, the star of the East was sold to Pierre Cartier. In 1908, Evelyn Walsh McLean, on a honey moon with her husband Edward Beale McLean, purchased the stone from Cartier. The Star of the East then remained in McLean's hands for about 40 years until her death. According to an article in the Southern Inspired Magazine, McLean died wearing the Star of the East, as well as the hope Diamond.[3] After her death, the star of the East together with the Hope Diamond were sold to Harry Winston, an American jeweler later known for donating the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution.
Winston sold the Star of the East to King Farouk of Egypt, but never received payment for it. Several years after King Farouk's overthrow in 1952, the Egyptian government recognized Winston's claim and the stone was eventually returned to him.
Harry Winston sold the Star of the East once again.
The Star of the East was displayed at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, at a reception marking the 50th anniversary of Harry Winston, Inc.
The star of the East came once again into Winston's ownership.
The Star of the East's present whereabouts are unknown[2]
Known changes over time
| Date acquired | Owner | Change in setting | Value when sold | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Sultan Abdul Hamid | Weighed 94.80 carats. | Note: disputed whether Sultan owned it. | |
| 19th Century | Pierre Cartier | reset to appeal to Evalyn McLean. | $180,000; $200,000 | Conflicting estimates of sales price. |
| 1908 | Edward Beale McLean and Evalyn Walsh McLean | $120,000 | Entire McLean collection sold to Winston.[4][5] | |
| 1947 | Harry Winston | $1,000,000 | NYC jeweler; bought the Hope Diamond as well.[4] | |
| 1951 | King Farouk of Egypt | Returned for failure to pay. | Winston never received payment.[6] | |
| 1952 | Harry Winston | Unknown | Winston claimed back the un-paid-for stone. Took a few years to actually get returned. | |
| 1969 | Unknown Private Collector | Unknown | Was displayed in the Modern Museum of Modern Art in a celebration commemorating 50 years to Harry Winston Inc. | |
| 1984 | Harry Winston | Whereabouts unknown since.[2] |
Confusion with the Ahmedabad diamond
In 1983, an article about Harry Winston appeared in the Gems & Gemology magazine. In the section about the Star of the East, the magazine Stated:
The Star of the East is believed to have been originally the Ahmedabad, a 157.25-ct rough diamond purchased in India in the mid-17th century by Tavernier, the French gem merchant. He later had it cut to a 94.78-ct pear shape and reportedly disposed of it in Persia. It then resurfaced in the 19th century in the possession of Sultan Abdul Hamid II of Turkey, who also owned the Hope diamond. (Krashes, 1983[6]).
Since the stones are both pear shaped, D-color, believed to be of Indian origin, similar in weight and have some unknown whereabouts, it is easy to understand why they were confused one for another. However, the confusion was resolved when in November 1995 the real Ahmedabad was offered for sale at Christie's in Geneva, and later bought by Robert Mouawad for $4,324,554.[7]
References
- 1 2 3 Star of the East Diamond. Internet Stones. Retrieved from http://www.internetstones.com/star-of-the-east-diamond-famous-jewelry.html
- 1 2 3 The Star of the East Diamond. Famous Diamonds. Retrieved from http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/staroftheeastdiamond.html
- ↑ Ploegman, C. The Hope Diamond. Southern Inspired Magazine. page 12. Retrieved from http://www.southerninspiredmagazine.com/uploads/Hope_Diamond.pdf
- 1 2 Glenn Osten Anderson – Dr. Jeffrey Post (Smithsonian) (2 October 2009). "The Hope Diamond revealed: The Smithsonian Institution in Washington displays the Hope Diamond without a setting for the first time in history". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
(video)
- ↑ AFP (20 November 2010). "Storied Hope Diamond gets a new necklace". France 24. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- 1 2 Krashes, L. S., (1983). Harry Winston: A Story Told In Diamonds. Gems & Gemology, 19, pages 27-28. Retrieved from http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?blobcol=gfile&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&blobheadername2=MDT-Type&blobheadername3=Content-Type&blobheadervalue1=attachment%3B+filename%3DSP83.pdf&blobheadervalue2=abinary%3B+charset%3DUTF-8&blobheadervalue3=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=GIA_DocumentFile&blobwhere=1355954813387&ssbinary=true
- ↑ The Ahmadabad. Famous Diamonds. Retrieved from http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/ahmadabaddiamond.html