Rare pink diamond goes on display in France 100 years after amateur heist

A rare nine-carat, pear-shaped pink diamond called the Grand Condé is set to go on display in France for the first time in nearly 100 years. The diamond, one of the few royal jewels to survive the French Revolution, was stolen from the Château de Chantilly on the very same day a century ago. It was hidden in a hollowed-out apple and later recovered when a hotel maid took a bite of the fruit.

The diamond will be displayed at the Condé Museum at the Château de Chantilly until January 3. Museum director Mathieu Deldicque confirmed that the apple story, though seemingly improbable, was frequently reported by newspapers at the time. He acknowledged concerns about the potential allure of such an exhibition following a series of recent high-profile heists on European cultural institutions, including the Louvre museum in Paris.

While the museum declined to disclose the insurance value of the diamond, they emphasized the thorough academic research conducted to ensure its unique identification. The study of the diamond's properties will be showcased alongside previously unseen archive material detailing its history and theft. Naturally occurring pink diamonds are incredibly scarce and can fetch tens of millions of dollars at auctions, with the highest recorded sale being $71.2 million in 2017.

The exact origins of the Grand Condé remain unknown, although it dates back to 1740 and has been part of various collections, including those of the Prince of Condé, Queen Marie-Amélie of Bourbon-Sicily, and her son, Prince Henri of Orléans, the Duke of Aumale. The diamond is now owned by the Institut de France, which houses the Château de Chantilly and its extensive collection of artworks and manuscripts.