In a revelation that reads like the closing act of a royal thriller, the legendary 137‑carat yellow gem known as the Florentine Diamond, long presumed lost or stolen, has been confirmed to have been safeguarded for decades in a bank vault in Quebec, Canada. The family of Empress Zita of Bourbon‑Parma, widow of Charles I of Austria, the last emperor of the Austro‑Hungarian Empire, has now publicly acknowledged its existence and revealed plans to exhibit the jewel and other Habsburg family treasures.
A Jewel Shrouded in History
The Florentine Diamond’s origins trace back to the Medici dynasty of Florence and beyond, eventually joining the Habsburg imperial collection. Historian sources place its weight at approximately 137 carats, cut in a pear shape and imbued with a light‑yellow hue.
After World War I, with the Austro‑Hungarian Empire dismantled and Emperor Charles I exiled in 1918, the fate of the diamond became the subject of speculation. Theories ranged from Nazi confiscation to recutting of the stone and stealth sale.
The Secret Canadian Vault
According to the Habsburg family’s account, Empress Zita fled Europe with her children during World War II and carried the jewels, including the Florentine, in a small suitcase. She eventually settled with the treasures in a Quebec bank vault.
At her instruction, the location remained secret for 100 years after Charles’s death in 1922, known only to two of her sons—Robert and Rodolphe—who then passed the knowledge to their heirs.
In November 2025, after that century‑long period of silence, the family revealed the diamond’s survival. Austrian jeweler A.E. Köchert, the former imperial court jeweler, has authenticated the stone, confirming its provenance and matching its historic cut and weight to archival records.
What Was Found—And What Remains Hidden
The vault reportedly holds the Florentine Diamond along with some fifteen other jewels tied to the Habsburg family. These include items linked to figures such as Maria Theresa of Austria, Empress Elisabeth of Austria (“Sisi”), and Marie‑Antoinette.
It is important to note that the jewels retrieved are private property of the family, rather than Austria’s state‑held crown jewels, which remain in Vienna.
Plans for Public Display
Rather than selling these treasures, the Habsburg family states they will retain ownership and exhibit them, beginning in Canada, as an act of gratitude for the country’s wartime refuge. Quebec officials have expressed interest in collaborating with the Habsburg descendants to present the collection in a museum setting.
Significance for Gem History and Cultural Heritage
The Florentine Diamond is more than a spectacle of carats and color. Its story intersects European dynastic splendour, imperial collapse, global exchange of heritage, and the secretive preservation of cultural assets amid wartime upheaval.
For gemologists and collectors, the diamond’s reappearance after more than 100 years underscores the enduring fascination with historically significant gemstones, not just for their rarity but for the narratives they carry. Its affirmation of authenticity bridges the past with the present.
Legal and Ethical Questions
While the family maintains private ownership, the revelation raises questions about provenance, state rights, and cultural property. Austrian authorities may have an interest in the items, although as of now, no public claims have been announced. Meanwhile, Canada’s position as guardian of the vault evokes the complex role of neutral territories in preserving displaced heritage during wartime.
What Comes Next
As the Habsburg jewels prepare to enter public view, several questions remain:
- Which institution will host the initial exhibit, and under what security and conservation conditions?
- Will Austria or other successor states make claims on the collection in the future?
- How will the exhibition be framed—as royal heritage, private collection, or shared cultural asset?
A Treasure Beyond Price
While value estimates vary and the Habsburg family declined to assign a monetary figure, experts suggest the diamond’s weight, historic provenance, and uniqueness place it among the most iconic gemstones in existence. Some sources previously have placed its worth in the hundreds of millions of dollars range, although exact figures remain speculative.
In the end, the unraveling of one of the 20th century’s greatest jewelry mysteries adds a new chapter to the Habsburg legacy. From the Medici court to imperial Austria, from secret flight to Canadian vault—the Florentine Diamond’s journey is a testament to the resilience of heritage, the quiet power of secrecy, and the timeless allure of extraordinary gemstones.
Featured image: Nasuna for The New York Times
Sewelo is a world where jewelry, watches, and objects come alive in a shimmering dance of fantasy. Through a literary lens, we celebrate the beauty and elegance that make these treasures more than just possessions.
