The historic Florentine diamond, a 137-carat yellow pear-shaped jewel once owned by the Austro-Hungarian Habsburg family, has resurfaced after being missing for nearly 100 years. Descendants of the former imperial family have revealed that the diamond was secretly stored in a Canadian bank vault for decades under the instructions of Empress Zita.
The diamond disappeared from public record around 1918, when Emperor Charles I fled Vienna following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. For years, historians believed the jewel may have been lost during the family’s escape or while valuables were moved to Switzerland for safekeeping. Its fate became the subject of speculation in books, films, and popular culture.
According to family accounts confirmed by multiple relatives, the diamond was never lost. After fleeing Nazi persecution during World War II, the Habsburg family brought the jewel to Canada and stored it securely in a bank vault. Empress Zita ordered that its location remain secret until 100 years after Charles I’s death in 1922.
With that period now complete, Habsburg descendants have decided the diamond and other family jewellery may be publicly exhibited. The collection is expected to remain in Canada as a gesture of gratitude for the country’s role in sheltering the family.
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