The Black Orlov
7 June 2007
According to the legend, the Black Orlov is said to have taken its name from the Russian Princess Nadia Vyegin-Orlov who owned it for time. It is a 67.50-carat cushion-cut stone, a so-called black diamond (actually, a very dark gun-metal color).
Legend asserts that possessing the Black Orlov diamond brings a curse of death upon the owner. The jewel’s curse supposedly began when it was stolen by a monk from a Hindu shrine in southern India. Lore says this cursed all future owners of the precious stone to a violent death. In 1947, Princess Nadia Vyegin-Orlov and Princess Leonila Galitsine-Bariatinsky, both former owners of the Black Orlov, leapt to their deaths in apparent suicides.
Fifteen years earlier, J.W. Paris, the diamond dealer who previously imported the stone to the United States, had jumped to his death from one of New York’s skyscrapers shortly after concluding the sale of the jewel.
Hoping to escape the curse, the 195 carat stone was divided into three separate stones and the Black Orlov is a 67.5 carat stone which is set in a 108-diamond brooch suspended from a 124-diamond necklace. And has since been owned by a succession of private owners, all of whom seem to have escaped the curse.
The stone has been exhibited widely, including at the American Museum of Natural History in 1951, the Wonderful World of Fine Jewelry & Gifts at the 1964 Texas State Fair, Dallas, and the Diamond Pavilion in Johannesburg in 1967.
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Mens Diamond 
3 Comments »
as a previous owner of THE BLACK ORLOV,i can attest that since 1995 THE BLACK ORLOV has been sold three times between private investors. in 1995 for 1.5 million dollars, in 2003 for an undisclosed amount, and in 2006 for $360,000. at Christies Magnificent Jewels auction October 11th(item #433). there is much information about this most enigmatic gem at http://www.blackorlov.com
best,
j. dennis petimezas
Hello previous Black Orlov owner, is it possible that you have any stray Orlovs lying about your enormous home? I’ve never read a post from anyone who has had the incredible luck and wealth to own such a majestic and fabled item. You must pinch yourself at the mere thought you were privvy to look at it on a regular basis. Why oh why did you sell it? The most charitable thing would have been to pass it onto to a diamond loving gal like me.
Hi catherine- No stray Orlovs layng around- only beautiful images of the magnificent gem remain now for me. I sold The Black Orlov at Christies in order to finance the pursuit of my next project which involves a ring previously owned by Marilyn Monroe, a lock of her hair, and a “kiss” from Marilyn, uniquely preserved on a napkin (which are awaiting DNA testing/comfirmation).
Komentuj!