Latest news with #TheGolcondaBlue
Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Daily Briefing: The Army's freehand in Pahalgam response
Good morning, From India's storied Golconda mines—the birthplace of legends like the Koh-i-Noor and Darya-i-Nur—emerged The Golconda Blue, once destined to fetch a whopping $35–$50 million at Christie's. It was poised to become the largest Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ever auctioned. Its anonymous owners have instead opted for a private sale within the family, pulling the gem from public view. But its legacy is anything but quiet. Once owned by the Maharaja of Indore, passed to famed jeweller Harry Winston, and briefly held by the Maharaja of Baroda, the Golconda Blue has a rich history. Read about it in our explainer. On that note, let's get to today's edition. Big Story As the government readies its response to the April 21 Pahalgam attack, India's top defence leaders gathered at the Prime Minister's residence on Tuesday. Per sources, PM Modi told them the armed forces have ' complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of our response'. A meeting of the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS)—comprising the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Home Minister, Finance Minister and External Affairs Minister—is expected later today. So, what should India's response be? Our columnists C Raja Mohan, M N Sabharwal, and Manish Sabharwal weigh in. Raja Mohan argues that India's retaliation must not just punish but compel a political reckoning inside Pakistan. (Read) Meanwhile, the Sabharwals examine the strategic arc of India's Kashmir policy and why this attack demands a forceful reaction. Adding fuel to the fire, Pakistani minister Attaullah Tarar has warned that Islamabad has 'credible intelligence' suggesting India could launch a military operation within the next 24–36 hours. Only in Express The diplomatic measures in the wake of the Pahalgam attack have spelt despair for several families. As India ordered Pakistani nationals to return to their countries, the Attari border post has become a site of teary farewells and heartbreak. For many, the suspension of visas for Pakistani nationals has meant separation from spouses and children. My colleague, Kamaldeep Singh Brar, documents their stories. Similar scenes are playing out miles away in Jammu and Kashmir, where many fear a midnight knock by the police, which will send them to Attari alongside other deportees. From the Front Page Bottom line: In the ongoing case over the alleged use of Pegasus, an Israeli-made spyware, to surveil journalists, activists and politicians, the Supreme Court has underlined that there is nothing wrong if a country has spyware and employs it for security. The only question would be against whom it is used. (S)heroes: Last year, Himachal Pradesh's Chief Minister announced his government's plans to create an experimental women-led district administration. In the first such district, Lahaul and Spiti, all seven top governance and administrative posts are now held by women. Must Read Fair winds: India is all set to acquire 26 Rafale-M fighter jets after its Rs 63,000 crore deal with France. An expert, Rear Admiral Mukul Asthana (Retd), explains the significance of the aircraft for the armed forces and why the Rafale fighter jets would improve interoperability between the Navy and the Air Force. Island Voice: The Great Andamanese, which includes a mixture of tribal languages such as Jero, Sare, Bo, and Khora, has fewer than 10 speakers alive. In the face of this extinction, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have embraced a unique linguistic identity as speakers of Andamanese Hindi. Unlike Hindi, the language does not have any gender agreement or number agreement. Read Adrija Roychowdhury's fascinating piece on the origins and evolution of Andamanese Hindi. And Finally… A handy companion for many, ChatGPT has a new offering for its users. OpenAI is set to launch a new shopping option, especially for users who research and buy products with the help of the AI chatbot. For now, the feature is advertisement-free, which may have Google worried. 🎧 Before you go, don't forget to tune in to the latest '3 Things' podcast episode. Today's lineup: Crackdown on Bangladeshi illegal immigrants in Ahmedabad and the shutting down of tourist sites in J&K. Business As Usual by EP Unny
Irish Examiner
26-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Iconic 23-carat blue diamond could be yours for €44m
The largest fancy vivid blue diamond ever at auction, The Golconda Blue comes up at Christie's in Geneva on May 14. Mounted in a ring by JAR and weighing 23.24 carats, the pear-shaped stone's provenance is rooted in Indian royalty. It was owned by the Maharajah of Indore, known for a lifestyle of cosmopolitan sophistication in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1913, his father had acquired the Indore Pear diamonds from Chaumet in Paris. In 1923, he commissioned a diamond bracelet set with the Golconda Blue. In 1946, iconic jeweller Harry Winston purchased the Indore Pears from the Maharajah and acquired the Golconda Blue in 1947. He set it in a brooch with a matching 23-carat white diamond and sold it to the Maharajah of Baroda. The brooch was subsequently reacquired by Mr Winston and resold to the current owner. At auction for the first time and in a ring setting by JAR, it is estimated at $35m-$50m (€30.78m-€43.97m).
Forbes
25-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The 23.24-Carat ‘Golconda Blue' Diamond Pulled From Christie's Auction
The 23.24-carat 'Golconda Blue' fancy vivid blue diamond has been pulled from the May 14 Christie's Magnificent Jewels sale. If it went to auction it would have been the largest fancy blue diamond to have been presented at a public sale. Its estimate was $35 - $50 million. Christie's provided a brief statement saying the unidentified owner of the sale decided to sell it within the family. The statement reads: 'The Golconda Blue's historic provenance, uncovered by Christie's research, has generated considerable market interest and much excitement globally. At this time, the owners have made the decision to pursue a sale of the diamond to a family member.' A spokesperson for the auction house further reinforced that it was a personal decision by the diamond's owner to sell it within the family. 'We can confirm that neither tariffs nor any financial market movement was responsible for the change,' the spokesperson said. Christie's, in a previous statement, said The Golconda Blue ranks among the rarest and most important diamonds ever discovered throughout history. The diamond was on a world tour and was on view in Hong Kong when the decision was made to pull it. The massive pear-shaped gem has additional star power as it is mounted in a contemporary ring by esteemed high jewelry artist, JAR. The diamond also has Indian royal provenance. Yeshwant Rao Holkar, the Maharaja of Indore and a member of the Holkar dynasty. In 1913, his father acquired the famed Indore Pear diamonds from Chaumet, marking the beginning of a long-standing relationship with the historic Parisian Maison, Christie's said. In 1923, during another visit to Chaumet, he commissioned a diamond bracelet set with his 23-carat pear-shaped Golconda blue diamond. Yeshwant Rao Holkar appointed Mauboussin as his official jeweler in 1933. The French jewelry house created a long flowing necklace that included both the Golconda Blue and the Indore Pear diamonds. It was worn by the Maharani of Indore memorialized in a portrait by Bernard Boutet de Monvel. In 1946, Winston purchased the Indore Pear diamonds from the Maharaja, and the following year, in January 1947, he acquired this 23-carat blue diamond. Winston later set it in a brooch alongside a matching 23-carat white diamond, which he sold to the Maharaja of Baroda. The brooch was subsequently reacquired by Winston and resold as a newly designed jewel to its current owner. 'Exceptional noble gems of this caliber come to market once in a lifetime," said Rahul Kadakia, Christie's international head of Jewelry, in a previous statement. "With its Royal heritage, extraordinary color and exceptional size, The Golconda Blue is truly one of the rarest blue diamonds in the world.' Golconda diamonds are among the oldest and most after diamonds in the world, prized for their purity. The first known mention of these diamonds is with a reference found in a 4th-century Sanskrit manuscript. In 327 BC, Alexander the Great brought diamonds from India to Europe, sparking the West's enduring fascination with these rare gems, Christie's said. By 1292 AD, Marco Polo chronicled the beauty of Indian diamonds in his travel writings. 'Today, The Golconda Blue stands not only as a natural marvel but also as a storied jewel, with a provenance bridging continents, dynasties, and centuries,' Christie's said.
Forbes
14-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The 23.45-Carat ‘Golconda Blue' Diamond Could Fetch $50 Million
Christie's will present the largest fancy vivid blue diamond to be offered at auction. Named 'The Golconda Blue,' it weighs 23.24 carats and has an estimate of $35 - 50 million. It will be the headline lot at Christie's Magnificent Jewels sale on May 14 at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva. The Golconda Blue is mounted in a contemporary ring by esteemed high jewelry artist, JAR, and ranks among the rarest and most important diamonds ever discovered throughout history, according to Christie's. The auction house did not immediately provide a laboratory report of the gem with details of its color and clarity grades. The pear-shaped diamond boasts a provenance rooted in Indian royalty. Yeshwant Rao Holkar, the Maharaja of Indore and a member of the Holkar dynasty, was known—alongside his wife—for a lifestyle defined by elegance and cosmopolitan sophistication in the 1920s and '30s, Christie's said in a statement. 'The Golgonda Blue' mounted on a ring by JAR Christie's In 1913, his father acquired the famed Indore Pear diamonds from Chaumet, marking the beginning of a long-standing relationship with the historic Parisian Maison, Christie's said. In 1923, during another visit to Chaumet, he commissioned a diamond bracelet set with his own 23-carat pear-shaped Golconda blue diamond. Yeshwant Rao Holkar appointed Mauboussin as his official jeweler in 1933. Afterward, Mauboussin reimagined much of the Maharaja's collection and created a long flowing necklace that included both the Golconda Blue and the Indore Pears. It was worn by the Maharani of Indore memorialized in a portrait by Bernard Boutet de Monvel. Yeshwant Rao Holkar also collaborated with other iconic jewelers, including Harry Winston. In 1946, Winston purchased the Indore Pears from the Maharaja, and the following year, in January 1947, he acquired this 23-carat blue diamond. Winston later set it in a brooch alongside a matching 23-carat white diamond, which he sold to the Maharaja of Baroda. The brooch was subsequently reacquired by Winston and resold as a newly designed jewel to its current owner. More than a century later, this same blue diamond will appear at auction for the first time. 'Exceptional noble gems of this caliber come to market once in a lifetime," said Rahul Kadakia, Christie's international head of Jewelry. "With its Royal heritage, extraordinary color, and exceptional size, The Golconda Blue is truly one of the rarest blue diamonds in the world.' The legacy of Golconda diamonds begins with a reference found in a 4th-century Sanskrit manuscript. In 327 BC, Alexander the Great brought diamonds from India to Europe, sparking the West's enduring fascination with these rare gems, Christie's said. By 1292 AD, Marco Polo chronicled the beauty of Indian diamonds in his travel writings. Today, The Golconda Blue stands not only as a natural marvel but also as a storied jewel, with a provenance bridging continents, dynasties, and centuries. While The Golconda Blue is the largest diamond offered at auction, the largest known fancy blue diamond is the Hope Diamond at 45.52 carats. It is the property of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., donated to the museum by Harry Winston. Even at its high estimate the Golconda Blue will fall short of the most expensive diamonds sold at auction even though it is much bigger than the largest fancy blue diamonds sold at auction. The 14.62-carat 'Oppenheimer Blue,' is currently the most expensive fancy vivid blue diamond sold at auction and for a short time was the most expensive gem ever sold at auction. It fetched more than $57.5 million at Christie's Geneva auction in May 2016. Currently, the largest fancy vivid blue diamond sold at auction is the 15.10-carat 'De Beers Blue,' which sold for $57.4 million at Sotheby's Hong Kong in April 2022.
