Five best museums diamonds

January 25, 1905 in Africa found the world’s largest diamond, named “Cullinan”, or “Star of Africa”. Today we tell about five museums dedicated to Diamonds, where you can see copies of the “Cullinan” and not only.

In the largest ever found in human beings diamond that weighed 3,106.75 carats (621.35 grams), unfortunately, there were cracks, so it can not be facet and turn into a giant diamond. In 1908 it was split, a total of 9 large and 96 small pieces. The biggest of them were decorated with faceted and a scepter and crown of the British Empire, as well as other jewels of the British royal family. Today, they are stored in the halls of the Tower of London. Talk about the jewelry collection, collected in the treasury of the Tower, can be infinitely long, as well as other public meetings about values, like the Diamond Fund of Russia. So we decided to focus on museums devoted solely Diamonds.

Diamond Museum in Antwerp, Belgium

Until the 19th century, the major supplier of diamonds to markets in Europe was India. Jewelry arriving by sea to Venice, were not yet ready for use in necklaces and rings – their path lay in Bruges and Antwerp, diamond cutting centers. Jewelcrafting completely in the hands of the Jews. Unworthy by the notion of time to become full citizens, they, nevertheless, reached unprecedented heights in processing precious stones – river orders flocked from all corners of old Europe. Gone century, underwent brutal expulsion of the Jewish nation Catholic Spain and sinister Holocaust, and Antwerp’s Jewish Quarter is still “Brilliant.” Here are the oldest and largest in the world diamond exchanges, sanding and a half thousand companies and the Diamond Museum.

All exhibitions of the museum, opened in 1988, dedicated to the world of exquisite creations of nature: their extraction and processing, trading rules, and the use of decorative and practical purposes. Diamond offers guests world-class master of turning an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan, master jeweler and a treasure trove of 19th century, which stores copies of the British crown jewels. Antwerp museum regularly holds exhibitions and unique luxury items, such as jewelry Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe.

Diamond Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Diamond in the Dutch capital era began in the 16th century, when the Jewish cutters Adamant after the defeat of Antwerp by the Spaniards were forced to find a new place for the righteous works. From year to year, from generation to generation among the jewelers passed Amsterdam gem-cutting equipment, acquiring new fanciful variations, such as the world famous “the Amsterdam faceting” rose and spider faceting. Incidentally, the “Star of Africa”, the world’s largest cut diamond created from fragments “Cullinan”, acquired its present form it is in Amsterdam. No wonder that it is here the efforts of the jewelry company Coster Diamonds, polished gorgeous “Kohinoor”, there was one of the best museums in the world of diamonds.

Dutch kingdom gloss and luxury, located near State Museum, combines existing factory windows with copies of the most famous adept diamond peace and safes with authentic treasures. You can see with your own eyes turning nondescript stones girls best friends, find out why one diamond more than another, and even buy a precious memento, if finances allow. However, in order to see the exhibits, you do not need to go to Amsterdam.

Mining Museum, Kimberley, South Africa

In 1866, on the banks of the Orange River near the town of Kimberley was found 21-carat diamond, named “Eureka” in 1869 – another already 83.5 carats, and in 1871 – his “twin brother” . Since then, the scope of the present Kimberley diamond rush, which led to unprecedented consequences: Kolsberg hill, on the slopes of which were gems disappeared from the face of the earth, becoming the world-famous “Big Hole”. For 40 years, from the depths of the pit, the depth of which reaches 240 meters, width – 463, came to light in 2722 kilograms of diamonds. “Big Hole” has ceased to exist in 1914, becoming the main attraction Kimberley diamond and diamond miners first business stones brothers De Beers unwound in a multibillion-dollar corporation that owns 60% of the world’s diamonds.

Mining Museum, Kimberley, lying at the “Big hole” – this city rebuilt since the great diamond rush, reminding the American Wild West. Saloons and pubs, horse racing and the lottery, tobacco shops and Finca de Beers brothers – all lovingly restored and is steeped in the atmosphere of freedom and future wealth. You can try to get your diamond or diamond look at the first South Africa, the same “Eureka”, as in the old historic tram ride or just buy souvenirs.

Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum, Israel

Another confirmation that the most skilful jewelers have always been representatives of the Jewish people. History of the Israeli Diamond Exchange begins in 1937 with the appearance of the first plants to cut home-delivered mail from Antwerp diamond, the first diamond factory Rosenberg and Daskalio and Palestinian diamond club. Israeli diamond industry gained incredible momentum – just a few years has become a major Netanya small jewelry center. The motto of the modern Israeli jewelery – “Collect diamonds and we will help you sell them” – as you can not truly reflect the current state of affairs: only Belgium ahead of the country in the implementation of the raw materials. Annual income from the sale of Israeli jewelers diamonds Americans alone exceeds $ 4 billion, and there is still Hong Kong, Belgium, Switzerland.

Pride and Exhibition Centre, the Israeli diamond business is Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum, located at the Israel Diamond Exchange Ramat Ghana. Exposure, not so long ago opened after reconstruction, using modern multimedia tells the fascinating story of the most valuable minerals on the planet: how diamonds are born, as extracted from the bowels of the earth, as converted into treasures and formed as their price.

Vilnius Museum of diamonds, Lithuania

When creating the Museum of diamonds in Vilnius also not without Jews – he owes its existence to a member of the Israel Diamond Exchange, Eli Katz, who was born in Lithuania. Vilnius is housed in two exhibition halls. The main part of the museum exhibits items of equipment used in the treatment of jewelry from ancient to modern. There is also not very big, but interesting collection of minerals from all over the globe. Audio guide is available in English, Russian, Polish, German and Lithuanian languages, acquaints visitors with interesting facts about the production and processing of diamonds, talks about how to determine the real value of the stone, and why it takes off price on the stock exchange. In the near future the museum is scheduled to open courses, training to deal in precious stones and evaluate them at the end of which will be issued a certificate valid in all European countries.