Orloff (diamond)

The Foundation of the Diamond of the the Kremlin has large a known Diamant under the name of Orlov (sometimes written Orloff). The origin of this resplendent relic - described like having the form and the proportions of half of a egg of Hen - can be gone up Temple Hindou at the XVIIe century Mysore, in southernmost India.

The remote origins of Orlov were forgotten with time, but one announces in particular that the Diamant in the past was used as eye for the statue of principal the Déité of the temple of Srirangam, the Ranganatha Lord, in southernmost India. The man considered to be responsible for his removal was a Déserteur French, a Grenadier of the wars of Carnatic which was apparently converted with the Hindouisme and admirer of the temple since the long ones of years. No one does not know if the conversion of this deserter were justified by the worship or to only reach the statue… The temple, located on an island of the river Kâverî, was surrounded by seven fences. No Christian further authorized forever than the fourth. After having stolen the stone of the house crowned around 1750, perhaps after a certain number of years of patient planning, the deserter was run away with Madras where it would have found the protection of the English army, as purchaser.

Pierre, up to now anonymous, passed from trader while negotiating, appearing thereafter on sale with Amsterdam. Will salt, a Armenian merchant (Persian according to certain sources), who then had Pierre, found a purchaser for the account of Grigory Grigorievich Orlov. The paid price would have been of 400.000 Dutch Florin, but this one would have probably been of agreement on any sum required. A few years before the purchase, Grigory Orlov had had a relation with the German Princess Sophie Frederick Augusta. This princess was intended to become the Grande Catherine of Russia. Grigory Orlov sought to relight their lovesong despaired by offering the Diamant to him, because it had been said to him that she wished it. Although it did not regain its affection, Catherine received many gifts of Orlov, of which a marble palate with Saint-Pétersbourg.

Catherine baptized the Diamant after the rupture. With its Jeweller, C. NR. Troitinski, it designed a sceptre incorporating Orloff. This sceptre, now known under the name of Imperial Sceptre, was carried out in 1784. A description is given by it by Burton (1986).

The sceptre is an axis polished in three regulated sections, decorated of eight cut diamond rings, from approximately 30 Carat S (6 G) each one, with fifteen others weighing approximately 14 Carat S (2,8 G) each one. Orloff is placed at the top, its convex face directed towards the front one. Above him is placed an eagle with double head with the Armoiries of Russia enamelled on its center.

Orloff is a scarcity among the Diamant S histories, because it has an original pink Indian size. Its color is white with a bluish color green clear. The data of the the Kremlin indicate that measurements of Orloff are 32 millimetres X 35 millimetres X 31 millimetres, its weight being of 189,62 Carat S (37,924 G).

A certain number of sources maintain the belief which Orloff is part of the Large Mongol and thus the same stone which would have disappeared after plundering from Delhi in 1739.

Today, the majority of the historians are appropriate that both Diamant S have completely different origins.

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