Diamond History

Mysterious Origins

The precise location and date of the diamond's discovery are unknown. The stone is generally believed to be of Indian origin, placing it within the historical tradition of exceptional diamonds that came from India's legendary diamond-producing regions.

What is known with greater certainty is that the diamond became associated with the wealthy Tereschenko family, a prominent Ukrainian family of industrialists, entrepreneurs and philanthropists.

It was from the Tereschenko family that the diamond received the name by which it became known internationally: the Tereschenko Diamond.

Mikhail Tereschenko and Cartier

The first well-documented appearance of the diamond dates to 1913, when Ukrainian businessman and statesman Mikhail Tereschenko entrusted the large blue diamond to Cartier in Paris.

Historical accounts indicate that Tereschenko later instructed Cartier to mount the stone in an elaborate necklace. The completed jewel incorporated the blue diamond together with numerous additional diamonds of different shapes, sizes and colors.

The jewel was returned to its owner during the turbulent years immediately preceding the Russian Revolution.

Revolution and Disappearance

By 1916, Europe and Russia were undergoing profound political and social upheaval. Historical accounts indicate that the Tereschenko Diamond was taken out of Russia shortly before the Russian Revolution transformed the country.

The stone subsequently passed into private ownership. For decades its location was largely unknown, adding an element of mystery to the history of one of the world's largest blue diamonds.

Rediscovered in 1984

After remaining outside public view for many years, the Tereschenko Diamond dramatically reappeared in 1984.

The stone was submitted for examination and certification by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and subsequently offered for sale by Christie's in Geneva.

Its reappearance attracted substantial attention from the international diamond trade because a blue diamond of this exceptional size and historical importance rarely becomes available at public auction.

The Record-Setting Auction

In November 1984, the 42.92-carat Tereschenko Diamond was offered at Christie's Geneva.

Renowned jeweler and diamond collector Robert Mouawad purchased the stone for approximately $4.6 million.

At the time, the sale established a world auction record for the price paid for a diamond, further securing the stone's place in modern diamond history.

A New Name: The Mouawad Blue

Following his acquisition of the diamond, Robert Mouawad renamed the Tereschenko Diamond the "Mouawad Blue."

The name change reflected the gem's entry into the distinguished Mouawad collection of important and historic diamonds.

Today the stone is therefore known by two closely connected names: the Tereschenko Diamond, reflecting its early documented history, and the Mouawad Blue, the name it received after its landmark 1984 purchase.

An Extraordinary Blue Diamond

At 42.92 carats, the Mouawad Blue remains one of the largest celebrated blue diamonds in the world. Mouawad identifies it as second in size among famous blue diamonds only to the 45.52-carat Hope Diamond.

Its combination of exceptional size, natural Fancy Blue color, mysterious early provenance, association with the Tereschenko family, Cartier history, decades-long disappearance and record-setting 1984 auction has made the Tereschenko-Mouawad Blue an important part of the history of famous diamonds.