Rare pink diamond stolen in 1926 returns to display in France

A rare nine-carat pink diamond stolen from a French château nearly a century ago has returned to public display, bringing renewed attention to an extraordinary theft that was solved after a hotel maid discovered the jewel hidden inside an apple.

The pear-shaped gemstone, known as the Grand Condé, was stolen during an overnight burglary at the Château de Chantilly in France in October 1926. The thieves concealed the valuable diamond inside a hollowed-out apple in an attempt to avoid detection, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

The jewel, one of the few royal treasures to survive the French Revolution, was recovered weeks later when a hungry chambermaid at the hotel where the thieves were staying took a bite of the apple and unexpectedly discovered the missing stone.

The unusual story attracted widespread media coverage at the time and remains one of the most remarkable episodes in the diamond's history.

According to Mathieu Deldicque, director of the Musée Condé, the account may sound unbelievable, but contemporary newspaper reports confirm that the incident took place.

Now, a century after the theft, the famous pink diamond is being exhibited again at the Musée Condé inside the Château de Chantilly, giving visitors a rare opportunity to see the historic gemstone.

The special exhibition, which opened on October 17, 2026, also features previously unseen archival documents related to the jewel's history and the investigation into its disappearance.

Deldicque declined to reveal the diamond's insurance value during an interview with CNN. However, he explained that extensive scientific research had been carried out to establish the gemstone's distinctive characteristics, ensuring that it could be uniquely identified.

The exhibition presents the findings of these examinations, offering visitors new insights into the diamond's composition, historical significance and remarkable journey through French royal collections.

Natural pink diamonds are exceptionally rare and can command extraordinary prices at international auctions. According to Sotheby's, the highest price ever paid for a pink diamond at auction was $71.2 million in 2017.

Despite extensive historical research, the exact origins of the Grand Condé remain unknown.

Records from the Château de Chantilly indicate that the diamond was first documented in 1740 in an inventory of the possessions of Louis Henri de Bourbon, Prince of Condé.

Over the centuries, the gemstone became part of France's royal heritage, surviving major political upheavals and eventually entering the museum's collection.

The exhibition commemorating the diamond's extraordinary history is being held at the Château de Chantilly, approximately 50 kilometres north of Paris.

According to the museum's official website, the exhibition is scheduled to run until February 21, 2027.

Photo: Chat GPT