Ch. 11: Remarkable Diamonds II

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	REMARKABLE DIAMONDS AND GEMS (Continued) Patiala. It is set in platinum and forms part of a necklace. Dr. Kunz stated later that this diamond is now in the possession of Lady Astor. FLORENTINE This gem is also known as the Austrian Yellow and Grand Duke of Tuscany. It is an Indian diamond of odd shape and unusual cutting—a beautiful double rose-cut. It has 126 facets and has the form of a star with nine rays. The Florentine is one of the largest of famous diamonds. It weighs 139.5 carats, and is worth 700,000 thalers. The first recorded mention of this diamond was made by the French traveler, Tavernier, in 1657 who saw it in the collection of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. It bears the name of his capital city, Florence. Later it was sent to Austria and, after a barter of land and wealth, became part of the Austrian Crown jewels. Its history is not so exciting as its radiant beauty. The Florentine is the same stone which Charles the Bold lost in the battle of Granson together with other valuables. A Swiss who found it sold it to a clergyman for a florin; the priest sold it for three francs to the citizen of Berne. The next possessor who gave 5,000 florins for the jewel, besides a present to May, the magistrate, sold it to a Genoese, from whom Lodovico Moro Sporza of Milan obtained it for about 10,000 florins. Pope Julius Second, however, gave 20,000 ducats for the gem when the Milanese treasure was sold. 103

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