A notable pink diamond known as the “Grand Condé” is being exhibited at the Condé Museum in the Château de Chantilly in France, marking a significant moment for the historical gemstone. The nine-carat, pear-shaped diamond was stolen nearly 100 years ago during an overnight raid on the château and hidden inside a hollowed-out apple by the thieves. The stone was recovered weeks later when a maid working at a hotel where the perpetrators were staying discovered it while taking a bite of the fruit, according to contemporary newspaper accounts.
The exhibition runs until January 3 at the museum, which is located approximately 50 kilometers north of Paris. Museum director Mathieu Deldicque confirmed that while the apple-based concealment may seem unusual, it was widely documented in the press at the time of the theft. The diamond represents one of the few royal jewels to survive the French Revolution and is part of a collection bequeathed to the Institut de France in the 19th century.
The museum has implemented security measures around the exhibition, with Deldicque noting that extensive academic analysis has been conducted on the diamond to establish its unique identifying characteristics. While specific insurance details were not disclosed, the director indicated that the research findings and previously unpublished archival materials related to the gem’s history and theft are incorporated into the display. Naturally occurring pink diamonds are exceptionally scarce and command significant prices at auction, with the record sale reaching $71.2 million in 2017.
The precise origins of the Grand Condé remain unclear. Historical records show the diamond was first documented in 1740 in an inventory following the death of Louis Henri de Bourbon, Prince of Condé, and subsequently became part of the royal collection before eventually entering the museum’s holdings.
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