Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Mastery of Design: The Townshend Pink Diamond Ring, 1800-1869


Pink Diamond Ring
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Among the rarest of the fancy color diamonds, pink diamondsare difficult to find, especially those which have not had their color enhanced. Natural pink diamonds have been found in Tanzania, Brazil and North West Australia.


The remarkably bright pink diamond was donated to the V&A as part of the impressive collection of Reverend Chauncey Hare Townshend. It is one of an exceptional suite of colored diamonds that were owned by the Reverend. This diamond, like the others, has been mounted in a ring for purposes of display and was never worn. Set in gold, the pink diamond is surrounded by a frame of brilliant-cut, colorless diamonds. The ring dates between 1800 and 1869.



The Townshend Diamonds
Once Part of the Hope Collection
The Victoria & Albert Museum

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