Fabled Gem Hidden Since the Habsburgs’ Fall
After more than a century of rumors and speculation, the Florentine Diamond—a legendary 137-carat yellow gem once part of the Habsburg Crown Jewels—has been found in a Canadian bank vault. The diamond, missing since 1919 and thought lost, stolen, or recut, was secretly safeguarded by heirs of the Habsburg dynasty, who honored a family promise to keep its location secret for over 100 years.
Family Promise Preserves the Past
The existence of the diamond was revealed when Habsburg descendants gathered in Canada to open an old suitcase containing imperial jewels. Detailed analysis by court jeweler Christoph Köchert and historic documentation confirmed the Florentine’s authenticity. The heirs, now based in Europe, said the diamond’s presence in Canada served to protect it during global upheaval and as a gesture of gratitude for sheltering the Habsburg family during the Second World War.
Plans for a Public Return
Empress Zita is believed to have kept the Florentine’s location secret, sharing it only with direct male heirs and instructing them not to reveal it until a century after Charles I’s death. The family now plans to exhibit the diamond in Canada and establish it as part of a public trust, allowing people to experience a piece of European royal history that has survived revolution, war, and the passage of time.
Jewel’s Remarkable Journey and Historic Value
Originally from India, the Florentine Diamond was famed for its unique cut and pale yellow hue, dazzling at royal courts across Europe for centuries. Its survival and dramatic reappearance are already drawing global interest from historians, gem experts, and collectors.