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  • The Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom
  • The Aurora Collection
  • The Iranian Yellows

Private collections of diamonds are not very publicized, as many wealthy collectors and lovers of diamonds prefer to remain anonymous and build their collections in secret. Nevertheless, there are a few private collections on which information can be found, or at least in part.

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Most viewed diamond jewels

The Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom

This is considered to be the most extensive and valuable collection of jewellery and diamonds in the world and is therefore kept safely in the Tower of London, a heavily fortified castle in the heart of the English capital. The so-called Jewel House is open to the public and can be visited. What many visitors do not know is that after an attempted attack in the 70s, the publicly exhibited crown jewels were exchanged for exact copies. The royal collection comprises over 2800 diamonds, many of which are set in crowns, sceptres and magnificent jewellery. Among them are two of the world's most famous and valuable diamonds, the legendary Koh-I-Noor and the Great Star of Africa, also known as the Cullinan I.

The Aurora Collection

This collection, also known as the Aurora Pyramid of Hope, contains 296 diamonds and was built up over a period of 25 years by American collectors Alan Bronstein and Harry Rodman in the late 20th century. It consists exclusively of coloured diamonds in various shapes, which are arranged according to size and displayed a pyramid, explaining the name. The permanent exhibition can be viewed in London. The total carat weight is almost 268 ct, making it the largest private collection of coloured diamonds in the world. Bronstein, who once spoke about the value of the collection in an interview, keeps it secret, but experts estimate the collection today at a high two-digit million sum, possibly even 100 million dollars. A brilliant business in the literal sense, as coloured diamonds were less in demand compared to colourless diamonds, while today it is the other way around.

The Iranian Yellows

A unique collection compiled by Nasseridin Shah at the end of the 19th century and now owned by the Iranian state, safely kept in the country's vaults. Among the yellow diamonds are several stones of over 100 carats, for example 150 carats, 140 carats and 135 carats. These are not fancy coloured diamonds, but white diamonds ranging from L to N on the colour scale, whose shade is particularly impressive due to their sheer size. The collection comprises a total of 23 diamonds, more than 1700 carats in total.

Would you like to buy diamonds, loose or set in jewellery, yourself? A team of BAUNAT experts is looking forward to providing you with detailed advice!

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Sofie Kuppens