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A Girl’s Best Friend ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend’ is the title of a song from the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Marilyn Monroe starred in the film wearing a yellow diamond called the Moon of Baroda. |
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Famous diamonds Diamonds of exceptional beauty and rarity are highly prized. Some have long, recorded histories while others have inspired fantastic legends. Most belong to the rich and famous. |
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The Jewel in the Crown The Koh-I-noor (mountain of light), is claimed to be the oldest large diamond. It was probably found in India and after belonging to Mughal kings was presented to Queen Victoria in 1850. Its cut was unimpressive, so it was recut. Today, it is in the British Crown Jewels. |
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Blue Hope The Hope has a reputation of bringing bad luck, but the sinister stories are untrue. It is a 45.52 carats and is now in the Smithsonian Institution, USA. |
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Lapis Lazuli In medieval times, lapis lazuli was crushed and purified to make the paint pigment ultramarine. It was used to paint the Wilton diptych, a detail of which is shown here. The famous altar piece is now in National Gallery in London. |
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Built on gold Between 1700 and 1900 the Asante kingdom dominated the area of Africa now known as Ghana. Its power was mostly founded upon its gold resources. Gold dust was the currency for internal trade. This lion ring is from the Asante kingdom. |
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