Recent reports of a few diamond experts having seen the Seraphim Blue Diamond, is seen as a confirmation of rumors that have been doing the rounds for the last few months. The experts claim that the historic blue diamond, is now in a European collection. A few diamond traders have, presumed that the diamond is now in ‘Russia’.
Earlier reports from various sources, had a narrative that was interestingly similar. The claim was that the Seraphim Blue Diamond which originated in the Golconda diamond mines, was worn by Asaf Jah I the first Nizam of Hyderabad in a lavish turban ornament. The time frame would be around 1724, the year when Asaf Jah 1 designated himself as the first Nizam, and took control of the Deccan region. The famous Golconda diamond mines, were located in that region – this allowed the Nizams to get preferential access to fine diamonds that, were extracted from the mines. The Nizams also controlled the diamond trade, that was conducted in the region.
Neither the Seraphim Blue Diamond nor the turban ornament worn by Asaf Jah 1, has been seen for centuries. A narrative pushed across reports from different sources was that, the diamond was a fine Golconda blue diamond – desirable blue color and a high degree of clarity. One set of reports put the hypothetical weight of the Seraphim Blue Diamond at around 7 to 9 carats. Not a big diamond, but the connection to royalty and its origin from the famed Golconda diamond mines – define a legendary diamond. Experts confirm that less than 1% of all the diamonds mined, have a fancy color like blue or yellow. This adds to the exclusivity of the Seraphim Blue Diamond.
While nothing in the reports seemed to appear far fetched or fictitious, there was no claim of anyone having seen the blue diamond. A small group of diamond experts claimed months later that, they had a chance to take a look at the Seraphim Blue Diamond. The details revealed by these experts, closely match the rumors that have been published in various reports.
Questions are being asked about the turban ornament with the blue diamond, the ornament that the first Nizam of Hyderabad would wear only on special occasions. Earlier rumors of the second Nizam of Hyderabad, handing over the Seraphim Blue Diamond to the French in return for military support – almost imply that the diamond was separated from the turban ornament that belonged to Asaf Jah 1.
The French quite obviously took the diamond as a mode of payment, by assessing its value. The gold turban ornament obviously did not hold much interest for the French, the fine blue diamond was all that mattered to them. The diamond would have been sold a couple of times before, it reached its claimed destination in the European collection.
The search for the first Nizam’s turban ornament with the Seraphim Blue Diamond, should end here. It remains to be seen whether, any clues surface about the second diamond turban ornament that was also, a part of the Asaf Jah I’s collection. It is claimed that, this turban ornament was encrusted with a Golconda pink diamond in the center. Pink diamonds from the Golconda mines, were known to have a rather pale pink color.
