A stunning diamond ring by JAR

Set with an old cut D colour ‘Golconda’ diamond weighing 11.70 carats

Diamond ring signed JAR Paris, mounted in platinum with the mount set with single-cut stones

Golconda is the name of the now-ruined fortress which originally served as a commercial trading centre in the region of the historic Indian mines of Ramalakota and Kollur near Hyderabad in the Deccan. The term ‘Golconda’ has survived to be used by the diamond trade today to describe the historic diamonds peculiar to this region of India – such as the spectacular Agra and Koh-i-Noor and the Beau Sancy. It is also occasionally used to denote stones of exceptional colour and purity which are also members of the subgroup known as Type IIa, the most chemically pure of all diamonds.

Pieter van der Aa (1659-1733), Carte du Golfe de Bengale, Mer des Indes, et Rivière du Grange...Golconda, Guzaratte, etc., circa 1720, later hand-coloured copper engraving on paper, published in Leiden

This rare stone is most probably part of the highly desirable group of surviving diamonds which were recovered in the Golconda region until the 18th century. It exhibits the typical ‘first water’ characteristic of these crystals – which have been compared to crystallized water in an attempt to describe their extraordinary limpidity and transparency. Once seen, this quality is impossible to forget, especially when associated with the typically old-fashioned cutting style as in this example.

The Beau Sancy, a 34.98 carat diamond, which dates back to the 16th century and had been owned by four European Royal families before it was sold at auction in 2012

The beauty of the stone is cleverly enhanced by the elegant JAR mount which holds the jewel with four simple claws to a band of eight-cut diamonds. JAR is justifiably renowned for highly chromatic creations but is also famous for ultra-chic minimalistic designs such as this.

Truly a diamond ring for a connoisseur.