A rare nine-carat pink diamond, once stolen and hidden in an apple, returns to public view in France.
A rare pink diamond is back on public display in France. This special event occurs nearly 100 years after a daring theft.
The nine-carat gem is known as the Grand Condé. Thieves stole the pear-shaped diamond from the Château de Chantilly in 1926.
Then, the robbers hid the precious stone inside a hollow apple. They hoped this trick would help them escape detection.
However, a hungry maid at their hotel discovered the gem. She bit into the apple and found the hidden prize inside.
Also, this diamond holds significant history as a survivor of the French Revolution. It remains one of the few royal jewels from that era.
Next, the Condé Museum will host the exhibit until January 3. The museum director says the apple story is actually true.
Meanwhile, some people worry about the safety of the display. They point to recent robberies at other famous cultural institutions in Europe.
Still, the museum has taken extra steps to protect the gem. Experts have studied the diamond to ensure it is uniquely identifiable.
After that, the curators added new historical documents to the show. These records provide fresh details about the diamond's long past.
Furthermore, pink diamonds are extremely rare in nature. Collectors often pay tens of millions of dollars for such unique items.
Finally, the origin of the Grand Condé remains a mystery today. Records first mentioned the gem in 1740 after the Prince of Condé died.
The diamond later passed to various royals. Eventually, it became part of the permanent collection owned by the Institut de France.