Two famed blue diamonds have a Russian connection – talking about the Tereshchenko Diamond and the Seraphim Blue Diamond. Fascinating stories detail how these fancy color blue diamonds, built the Russian connection. A brief understanding of diamond mining in Russia will, clear doubts about a Russian origin for the two blue diamonds mentioned above.
RUSSIAN DIAMOND MINING
Russia is one of the world’s leading diamond producers by volume, with the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) leading production and mines in Arkhangelsk also contributing significantly. Major mines like Mir (Mirny), Aykhal, Internationalnaya, Yubileynaya, Ebelyakh in Sakha, and Lomonosov in Arkhangelsk account for massive carat production.
BLUE COLOR DIAMONDS
While the Russian diamond mines yield colored diamonds occasionally (yellow, pink, purple), there’s little documented evidence of naturally occurring blue diamonds being mined in Russia. According to industry insiders, ALROSA (the major Russian diamond miner) produces about 7,000 carats of fancy-color diamonds annually, and these are sourced from Yakutia. However, blue is not commonly mentioned among those rare diamond colors.
THE TERESHCHENKO DIAMOND
The blue diamond is named after Tereshchenko family, wealthy Ukrainian-Russian sugar magnates and art collectors in the early 20th century. The family reportedly possessed the diamond before the Russian Revolution (1917). The origin of this blue diamond remains unclear. While some experts link it to the famed Golconda mines, an equal number of connoisseurs guess that it originated in the South African diamond mines. Seasoned diamond professionals agree that, the possibility of the diamond originating in the Russian mines is nil. The Tereshchenko Diamond was reportedly cut by Cartier in 1915. The diamond has been fairly well tracked from that point in time.
The Tereshchenko Diamond vanished from public view, after the Russian revolution. The political upheaval very likely, caused the Tereshchenko family to sell the diamond or, to smuggle it out of the country. The diamond remained out of sight for a few decades, the fate of the Tereshchenko diamond was unclear. And just as diamond collectors started to lost hope – it resurfaced in 1984 at Christie’s Geneva, where it fetched US $4.5 million — a record for any colored diamond at the time.
THE SERAPHIM BLUE DIAMOND
This legendary blue diamond has an enviable provenance, dating back to around 1724. The Tereshchenko Diamond on the other hand, has been tracked since fairly recent (1915) times, this when it was cut by Cartier.
The Seraphim Blue Diamond was worn in a lavish turban ornament, by the first Nizam of Hyderabad. It was Asaf Jah 1 (original name Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan), who proclaimed himself as the first Nizam and started, the reign of the Nizams in the Deccan region.
The Nizams controlled the highly resourceful (in that time) Golconda diamond mines and also, exercised significant control over diamond trade in the region. The origin of the Seraphim Blue Diamond, was in the Golconda mines. There has never been any debate on the origin, of this historically significant blue diamond. Important to know that neither the Russian nor the South African diamond mines, were commercially active during the time (1724).
Asaf Jah 1 as the first Nizam, ruled over the Deccan region from 1724 to 1748. The second Nizam titled Asaf Jah II handed over the Seraphim Blue Diamond to the French, this in return for military support. This was a purely commercial transaction, the French obviously verified the value of the blue diamond before, accepting it as a mode of payment. The blue Golconda diamond, then went through a chain of private sales and transfers and remained, elusive for centuries.
Information about the whereabouts of the historic blue diamond, has been trickling in from various sources in recent times. With a similar narrative, reports claimed that the Seraphim Blue Diamond is now part of a Russian collection. Few diamond experts who claim to have seen the actual diamond, observe that it is a Golconda diamond with an old-mine cutting style. The pear shape diamond weighs around 6 to 8 carats. Information similar to their observation, had been reported on various platforms – much before the claim made by these diamond experts. The Seraphim Blue Diamond has never been put up for sale, it has never been auctioned.
SUMMARY
While the Tereshchenko Diamond and the Seraphim Blue Diamond, have a Russian connection – neither of these historic blue diamonds, originated in the Russian diamond mines. The illustrious provenance of the Seraphim Blue Diamond, confirms a Golconda mine origin. The origin of The Tereshchenko Diamond, continues to be a point for debate. The diamond could be from the Golconda mines or the South African mines.
