The year 2025 delivered a rollercoaster of royal jewelry news, but one story shone brighter than the rest: the miraculous rediscovery of the Florentine Diamond! While a shocking heist at the Louvre cast a shadow, the unexpected return of this legendary gem provided a moment of pure brilliance. It takes the number two spot in my best-of-2025 countdown.
In November, The New York Times broke the incredible news. Three grandsons of the last Emperor and Empress of Austria invited a select few to Quebec for a private viewing. Imagine the anticipation as they opened a small cardboard suitcase belonging to Empress Zita. Inside lay a treasure, including the 137.27-carat Florentine Diamond.
For a century, this light yellow diamond, mined in India, was presumed lost, either sold or recut after the Austro-Hungarian Empire's fall in 1918. It had graced the Medici and Habsburg families for centuries. The world had given up hope until Prince Karl, Prince Lorenz, and Prince Simeon shared its existence with the world.
But here's where it gets controversial... It turns out Empress Zita had safeguarded the diamond, carrying it into exile and eventually depositing it in a Quebec bank vault during World War II. She entrusted the secret location to two of her sons, who then passed it down to their sons, Prince Lorenz and Prince Simeon. The secret was finally revealed to their cousin, Karl, the head of the family, a century after Emperor Karl's death.
The New York Times article unveiled the secret to the world this autumn. The family currently has no plans to sell or relocate the jewels. But this is the part most people miss: The nations once ruled by the Habsburgs are already exploring potential claims to the diamond.
I covered the initial news of the Florentine Diamond's reappearance in November in the free midweek edition of Hidden Gems. (Be sure to subscribe to receive similar articles in your inbox each week!) And now, as we anticipate the winner of our countdown, I have a feeling some of you may already know what's coming...
What do you think? Should the diamond remain with the family, or do you believe it belongs to the nations where it once resided? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
