When the Louvre thieves missed grabbing the diamonds from Golconda

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 Screengrab from an undated video

The Pitt Regent diamond that began its travel from Paritala successful Andhra Pradesh to Paris connected display. Photo credit: Screengrab from an undated video

Behind each diamond merchantability oregon theft successful the world, determination is simply a transportation to Telangana’s Golconda. And truthful it is with the latest heist successful Paris astatine the Louvre, considered 1 of the astir unafraid creation museums of the world.

On Sunday greeting (October 19), thieves rode up a conveyance mounted electrical ladder, chopped the solid panes, reached the show of the Galerie d’Apollon and escaped wrong 7 minutes. The assemblage is simply a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Among the 8 items listed arsenic stolen by the French Culture Ministry is simply a crown from the postulation of Queen Marie-Amelie and aboriginal the Dutch Queen Hortense.

What the thieves missed were the existent storied gems from India. More precisely, called Golconda diamonds, mined successful Kollur and Paritala portion of the kingdoms that were controlled from Hyderabad. “They besides missed the Regent diamond, valued by Sotheby’s astatine much than US$60m (£45m),” wrote 1 societal media idiosyncratic arsenic accusation astir the robbery spread.

The Pitt Regent, a 140.5 carat diamond is considered 1 of the astir superb among the ample diamonds that are known to exist. The overmuch much fabled Kohinoor is present a 105.6 carat gem connected show successful London.

While the past of the Kohinoor diamond has a fewer missing pages, the Pitt Regent has a continuous past from 1701 onwards erstwhile it made its quality successful assemblage Madras wherever the Governor was Thomas Pitt.

In Focus podcast | Can the stolen Crown Jewels from the Louvre ever beryllium recovered?

Apparently recovered by a miner successful Paritala successful contiguous time Andhra Pradesh, the unsmooth gem was 426 carats. The miner reportedly made an incision successful his limb to smuggle the diamond to Madras. There, helium tried to merchantability it to a British sailor who promised him wealth and flight from the spot but alternatively took the diamond and threw the miner overboard.

The sailor past sold the uncut chromatic to Ramchand and bought it for 48000 pagodas (gold coins from Golconda kingdom) oregon astir £20,000. After it was chopped and polished, Pitt sold it to the French Regent for £1,35,000 Pounds. For a little play during the French Revolution, it disappeared earlier being recovered. Napoleon Bonaparte had it encrusted successful a sword and posed for a painting. The diamond yet reached the Louvre successful 1887 and has survived the latest heist.

Another diamond from Golconda near down by the thieves is the Hortensia. A 20.53 carat orangish pinkish purchased by Louis XIV from an chartless dealer. It was besides stolen during the French gyration from the Royal Treasury successful 1792. It was recovered and worn by Napoleon 1 and aboriginal by Hortense de Beauharnais, queen of Holland. It was stolen again successful 1830.

The Sancy is different storied gem not picked up by the Parisian thieves. A 55-carat treble roseate chopped diamond that began its travel arsenic Sancy aft it was purchased by Nicholas Sancy, the French Ambassador successful Ottoman tribunal successful 1570. The Sancy is possibly the lone jewel that returned to India erstwhile it was purchased by Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, but it was backmost during the Paris Exposition of 1867 successful a solid casing. Then, similar each fabled diamonds, it disappeared for decades. It was purchased by the Louvre successful 1978.

Now, arsenic policemen hunt for the missing jewels from the Louvre, the diamonds from Golconda volition get an other furniture of information and different accidental to shine.

Published - October 22, 2025 06:30 p.m. IST

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