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F1's $1M Diamond Mystery: Lost at Monaco GP
13 Nov
Summary
- A $1M diamond disappeared from a Jaguar F1 car in 2004.
- The diamond was attached for publicity ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix.
- The lost diamond generated significant publicity for the team.
A nearly $1 million diamond attached to a Jaguar Formula 1 car for publicity vanished during the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix, creating one of the sport's enduring mysteries.
Jaguar Racing, facing withdrawal from F1 by parent company Ford, sought publicity. They partnered with the movie "Ocean's Twelve," attaching diamonds to their cars for the Monaco weekend.
Driver Christian Klien's car, featuring a 1.4-carat diamond on its nose cone, crashed on the first lap. The diamond was lost amidst the debris and has not been seen since.
Multiple theories exist, including theft, accidental sweeping away, or the diamond shattering. Team officials confirm the gem was real and uninsured.
Despite the loss, the mystery provided significant publicity, which reportedly aided the team's eventual sale to Red Bull, who later achieved substantial success in Formula 1.
