ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST EXTRAORDINARY GEMSTONES, THE 'WITTELSBACH-GRAFF DIAMOND', WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, WASHINGTON, DC, 28.JANUARY THROUGH 1.AUGUST.2010. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME IT HAS BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IN MORE THAN 50 YEARS. A DIAMOND OF RARE DEEP-BLUE AND WEIGHING 31.06 CARATS, THE 'WITTELSBACH-GRAFF DIAMOND' WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE 'NATIONAL GEM COLLECTION' IN THE HALL OF GEOLOGY, GEMS AND MINERALS, WHERE THE RENOWNED HOPE DIAMOND IS ON PERMANENT VIEW. THE 'WITTELSBACH-GRAFF DIAMOND' HAS LONG BEEN RUMORED TO HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THE SAME DIAMOND MINE IN INDIA AS THE HOPE DIAMOND. SMITHSONIAN SCIENTISTS WILL EXPLORE THIS MYSTERY WHILE THE DIAMOND IS IN THEIR CARE. THE 'WITTELSBACH-GRAFF DIAMOND' HAS AN ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY, DATING BACK TO 1664 WHEN IT WAS GIVEN BY PHILIP IV OF SPAIN TO HIS DAUGHTER, THE INFANTA MARGARITA TERESA, UPON HER ENGAGEMENT TO EMPEROR LEOPOLD I OF AUSTRIA. AFTER WORLD WAR I, BAVARIA BECAME A REPUBLIC AND THE CROWN JEWELS OF THE HOUSE OF WITTELSBACH WERE EVENTUALLY SOLD AT AUCTION AT CHRISTIE'S IN 1931. IN AN INCIDENT THAT HAS NEVER FULLY BEEN EXPLAINED, THE 'WITTELSBACH-GRAFF DIAMOND' DISAPPEARED BEFORE THE AUCTION AND WAS REPLACED BY A WORTHLESS PIECE OF BLUE, CUT GLASS. THE ACTUAL 'WITTELSBACH-GRAFF DIAMOND' RESURFACED IN BELGIUM IN 1951 AND WAS EVENTUALLY DISPLAYED, WITHOUT ATTRIBUTION, AT THE 'WORLD EXHIBITION' IN BRUSSELS IN 1958. THE DIAMOND WAS CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED IN 1962 BY A BELGIUM GEM EXPERT. IN DECEMBER 2008, THE 35.56 CARAT STONE WAS ACQUIRED BY LAURENCE GRAFF, AT AUCTION IN LONDON. GRAFF'S EXPERTISE IN GEMOLOGY ENABLED HIM TO SEE THE POTENTIAL IN REPOLISHING THE STONE, BRINGING TO IT MORE LIFE AND COLOUR WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MAKING IT INTERNALLY FLAWLESS. THE PROCESS BROUGHT THE STONE TO ITS CURRENT 31.06 CARATS. 'TO HAVE TWO OF THE WORLD'S MOST HISTORICAL STONE, 'WITTELSBACH-GRAFF' AND THE 'HOPE DIAMOND', DISPLAYED TOGETHER, IS A TESTAMENT TO THE STONES' HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE', SAID GRAFF. 'I BELIEVE THE DIAMONDS APPEARANCE AT THE SMITHSONIAN WILL REPRESENT ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT CHAPTER IN ITS REMARKABLE HISTORY.'
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