Diamonds aren’t just priceless rocks that are lust-worthy; most of these dazzling beauties have stories to tell. From beguiling tales tracing their origins to accounts of their famous owners, and notorious thefts, authors have attempted to put into words the curious histories that these precious gems have lived.
If you are passionate about diamonds or simply wish to learn more about them, here’s a list of books that are certain to capture your interest and imagination.
The most famous and some lesser-known auctions of royal and noble jewels come to life, as do stories of royal fortunes and misfortunes. Image: Instagram: @josiegoodbody
Christie’s: The Jewellery Archives Revealed
A recent book by Vincent Meylan, a specialist in precious stones and high-end jewellery, Christie’s: The Jewellery Archives Revealed covers 250 years of sales by one of the world’s oldest auction houses. With full access to Christie’s archives, the book contains never-seen-before images while expertly drawing out details of each momentous sale, including the gems of tragic European queens, Mary, Queen of Scots and Marie Antoinette, both of whom were beheaded. An extraordinary record of royal jewels and family fortunes and misfortunes, it’s a great start for a glimpse into this elusive world.
The book traces the history of almost 80 of the most famous diamonds in the world. Image: Instagram: @antique_jewellery_berlin
Famous Diamonds
Ian Balfour digs into the history of almost 80 of the most famous diamonds that have ever existed – including the Kohinoor, which sits in the British crown jewels, the “cursed” Hope Diamond, and The Cullinan, the world’s largest diamond. The rare stones once thought to have magical properties that protected their owners from enemies, have, unsurprisingly, spurred wars, mergers and passionate love affairs. The author presents detailed histories of the stones that trace back to their origin in the mines, and of those that mysteriously disappeared. The text is accompanied by stunning photos, making it a compelling read.
Elizabeth II’s exquisite inherited diamonds is a must. Image: Instagram: @altezzareale_blog
The Queen’s Diamonds
The royal jewellery owned by Queen Elizabeth II is marvelled at by millions all over the world. In The Queen’s Diamonds, authored by royal expert Hugh Roberts, readers get a rare chance to take a close look at these gems. The book was published on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and talks about the royal inheritance of diamonds from the time of Queen Adelaide in the 1830s to the present day. Illustrated with new pictures of the jewels and archive material, this book is a historical keepsake and slated to be a standard work of reference on diamond jewellery for years to come.
This book narrates the tale of a real-life $108m diamond heist in Brussels, Germany, and how the robbers pulled it off. Image: Instagram: @pinterest
Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History
Thrillers make for riveting reads, especially when they are based on true events. Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History is a real-life Ocean’s Eleven that uncovers the truth behind a $108 million-diamond (approx £88k) heist in Brussels in 2003 when robbers broke into an allegedly airtight vault in the international diamond capital of Antwerp. While this almost-perfect crime’s leader was identified by the police, the details of how it was pulled off remained obscure. That’s when Scott Andrew Selby, a Harvard law grad and diamond expert, and author Greg Campbell decided to undertake a wild goose chase across Europe to put together the pieces of the puzzle. What they brought back was the true story of the daring events that conspired on that Valentine’s Day weekend.
This in-depth book delves into details on diamonds origin, how they are cut and shaped, about the most famous stones and how to buy them. Image: @pinterest
The Book of Diamonds: Their History and Romance from Ancient India to Modern Times
This book is, in a gist, everything that you ever wanted to know about diamonds – the most coveted and prized of all gems. Author Joan Younger Dickinson puts together engrossing details about the early discoveries in the Golconda mines of India, the digs in Brazil, the South African diamond rush, and the development of major mining companies. Profusely illustrated, the tome contains not just specifics about how the stones are mined, cut and faceted as well as stories of popular and infamous diamonds, but also serves as a practical guide for anyone with an interest in buying diamonds. If you find yourself captivated by the brilliance of these rocks, this book has all the information you will ever need.