FAMOUS DIAMOND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 85, 20 January 1928, Page 7

FAMOUS DIAMOND.

FORMERLY IN IDOL'S EYE. I understand that the Nassak diamond was bought from the Duke of Westminster about a year ago by M. Mauboussin, a well-known Parisian collector of precious stones, in whose possession it still remains (writes the Pans correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph"). This stone is one of the world's most famous gems, for its history can be traced back as far as the sixth or seventh century, and, apart from its historical associations, it is one of the finest specimens ever found in India. It is a stone of nearly 80 carats of the bluey-white tint, which characterises all gems found in the Golconda mines. Its value was evidently fully realised by its discoverers, for if, was selected as the gem which formed the Cyclopean eye of the image of Shiva, in the Temple of Nassak, where for a thousand years it was worshipped by Hindus, who saw in its brilliant fires the light of a divine eye. It was taken from its place in the idol's forehead in 1818, when Nassak was occupied by the British forces and shortly afterwards was sent to London by the East India Company. lit was.then purchased by the Marquis of Westminster, ancestor of the present Duke of Westminster. He wore i£ in his sword-hilt at the first birthday reception given by Queen Victoria after her Coronation. Its present owner has not as yet put a price upon the stone, but its worth may be judged by the fact that long before the war it was valued at nearly 1 000,000 francs—that is, gi±d Francs (£40,000).