Orlov (diamond)

The Orlov (sometimes spelled Orloff) is a large diamond that is part of the collection of the Diamond Fund of the Moscow Kremlin. The origin of this resplendent relic – described as having the shape and proportions of half a hen's egg – can be traced back to a Hindu temple in 18th century Mysore, southern India

The Orlov is a rarity among historic diamonds, for it retains its original Indian rose-style cut (see diamond cut). Its colour is widely stated as white with a faint bluish-green tinge. Data released by the Kremlin give the Orlov's measurements as 32 millimetres x 35 millimetres x 31 millimetres, its weight being 189.62 carats (37.924 g). The weight is just an estimate – it hasn't formally been weighed in many years. Lord Twining's book "A History of the Crown Jewels of Europe" mentions how once during a circa-1913 inspection of the crown jewels by the then-curator, the stone accidentally fell out of its sceptre. He weighed the stone but didn't write down its exact weight. He later commented it was about 190 carats, which corresponds to the measurement-based estimate.