Legendary Florentine Diamond Resurfaces in Canadian Vault After Century-Long Mystery

In a remarkable turn of events, one of Europe's most legendary jewels, the Florentine Diamond, has resurfaced after being lost or stolen for more than a century. The stunning 137-carat pale yellow diamond, with a storied history spanning centuries and royal dynasties, was recently revealed by descendants of Austria's Habsburg family.

The diamond's origins can be traced back to India's famed Golconda mines, from where it found its way into the treasury of the powerful Medici family of Florence during the Renaissance. The gem later became a prized possession of the Habsburgs, rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, symbolizing centuries of imperial power and continuity.

After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, the diamond was spirited away by Emperor Charles I and his wife, Empress Zita, who carried the family's most valuable jewels, including the Florentine Diamond, in a simple cardboard suitcase through a perilous exile across Europe. The diamond was eventually secured in a Quebec vault in 1953, where it has remained hidden from the public eye for decades.

Now, the descendants of the Habsburg family have decided to reveal the diamond's existence, ending a long-running mystery that had fascinated historians and gem lovers alike. While the diamond's estimated value is around $750,000, its true worth lies in its historic significance and the remarkable journey it has endured, from the grandeur of Renaissance Florence to the fall of empires and global wars.