Mr. Graff’s response to the controversy in The Telegraph states “I repolished the stone in order to bring out its full potential, bringing to it more life and color, but at the same time making sure that its original features were retained.” There seems to be a difference of opinion in the jewelry, gem and historical communities with Mr. Graff’s decision to alter a piece of history. He is the son of Duke Albrecht of Bavaria. tomas@tswittelsbach.com . Eleonore then passed the “Great Blue Diamond” on to her grand-daughter, Archduchess Maria Amelia, daughter of Emperor Joseph I. On the House of Wittelsbach Web site, we display the dimensions of our products. To keep our prices low, we do not allow comparison purchasing. Pp. In 1124, Otto V, count of Scheyern (died 1155), removed the residence of his family to Wittelsbach and called himself by this name. Recognizing immediately that the diamond was probably of great historical significance, he refused to re-cut it. When the hammer came down at £5,400 to a mysterious buyer named Thorp the feeling at the time was that the diamond had not met its reserve and therefore actually remained unsold. Pp. Members of the family were rulers of Bavaria, either as Dukes, Electors or Kings, from 1180 until the revolution in 1918, after the defeat of Germany in World War I. Napoleon elevated Bavaria to a kingdom in 1806 and in 1815 the Palatinate became incorporated as Rhine Palatinate. If you do not wish to use a credit card to redeem your gift certificate, call customer service at 800-242-2728. The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond.Image Courtesy of Christie’s Images, 2008. “Where was the Wittlesbach?” Was it sold on the black market? You know who has worn it, what kinds of historical events it has gone through and what social upheavals it was present for.”, People of German heritage worldwide are said to consider what was done to the Wittelsbach as vandalism. With the end of World War I, all the possessions of the House of Wittelsbach were placed under the control of the State. We will ship orders under $10,000 to APO and FPO addresses via USPS priority mail. It was held in trust for an unidentified estate until 1964 when it was sold to a private collector. Emanuel captures Ulm. History in Coins – 10th September 1702: Maximilian II. 3D Printing Digital Sculpting Zbrush Teaching Jewelry design. Weighing in at 35.56 carats and measuring 24.40 mm in diameter and 8.29 mm in depth, the diamond is cut with fifty unusually placed facets and is said to be of excellent clarity, except for some minor surface scratches. House of Wittelsbach. © 2010 Gemological Institute of America. It belonged to the Bavarian House of Wittelsbach and was displayed in the Treasury of the Munich Residence until it disappeared in 1931. At a Christie’s auction in London in 1931, the Wittelsbach was the first up of 13 lots on the block. 80-88. Skills. Register to hear about the next module. (previous page) () How the diamond came into the Spanish King’s possession remains a mystery. With the Wittelsbach blue, you know how it came into existence and in a rather exciting way. While the Wittelsbach-Graff is at the Smithsonian, scientists will endeavor to discover whether these extremely rare blue diamonds originate, as has been rumored over the years, from the same mine in India. 25% off with code gold25. Due to the threat of internet fraud, we cannot return your money. If you'd like an immediate answer, you might … Four years later it was redeemed from the bank, along with a gold dinner service, for 543,781 guilders. Seeking a way to ease the royal family’s financial problems, the State decided to sell off some of the Crown Jewels, including the Wittelsbach diamond. House of Jewels. Read the details of our 15-Day Returns Policy. Nevertheless, their overall resemblance and common origin (India) suggest that both diamonds formed under similar geologic conditions.1. Yet the Wittelsbach did not return to Munich. “The Wittelsbach-Graff and Hope Diamonds: Not Cut From the Same Rough,” Gems & Gemology, Summer 2010, Vol. For security purposes, when you redeem your gift certificate online, we require that you use a credit card. Jewelry/Watches. In an article in IDEX magazine titled “From Auction to Outrage,” Laurence Graff is widely criticized by jewelry experts, gemologists and the people of Germany for his re-cut of the historic Wittelsbach diamond. The family takes its name from the ancestral castle of Wittelsbach in Upper Bavaria. House of Bavaria, 1623–1648 Maximilian I 23 February 1623-24 October 1648 Frederick V's territories and his position as Elector were transferred to the Duke of Bavaria, Maximilian I, of a distantly related branch of the House of Wittelsbach. The result created an impoverished royal family. Instead, he created a consortium to purchase the fabled blue diamond thus preserving it in all its original glory. If you'd like an immediate answer, you might be able to find the information you're looking for below. If there is an overwhelming volume of purchases our shipping date may slip. History’s first mention of the Wittelsbach diamond appears in 1664, with ownership by King Philip IV of Spain. He is an instructor on jewelry design and he has his own line of jewelry, the House of Wittelsbach. Infrequently, data may be inaccurately displayed on our site due to system errors. Gift certificates and unused portions expire on the date listed on your printed gift certificate, or the date listed in your gift certificate e-mail (does not apply to California or where prohibited by law). It was secretly sold in 1951, “rediscovered” in 1961, and then sold again in 1964 to an undisclosed private buyer. The product must be returned within 15 days of receiving it in the same condition that it was received in. If you prefer, we can ship your order to an address other than your billing address. Custom jewelry is available. Gift certificates are not redeemable for cash, cannot be returned for a cash refund, and are not transferable. If you cannot be available to receive your order on a weekday, we may be able to arrange for your order to be delivered on Saturday. At House of Wittelsbach, we always offer the best value by providing the lowest possible price. The House of Wittelsbach split into these two branches in 1329: Under the Treaty of Pavia, Emperor Louis IV granted the Palatinate including the Bavarian Upper Palatinate to his brother Duke Rudolf's descendants, Rudolf II, Rupert I and Rupert II. It's been an amazing journey being on the bleeding edge of the printing world for jewelry. 25 No. It was held in trust for an unidentified estate until 1964 when it was sold to a private collector. The stone may look a bit more lively and sparkling, but its history has been destroyed.” Hans Ottomeyer, Director of the German Historical Museum in Berlin reacted to the Wittelsbach’s remodeling stating that it was like “buying a Rembrandt and repainting it.”. At any time, you can view your gift certificate balance. The Wittelsbach diamond was the most expensive item of jewelry among other items in Maria Amelia's dowry, and had a estimated value of 240.000 guilders at the time of her marriage. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of our diamond and jewelry consultants in person at service@tswittelsbach.com or 715-764-1011. Contact. In the 21st century, members of the Wittelsbach family can still be found. This helps us ensure your identity, and protects against fraudulent use of your gift certificate. Renowned diamond cutter Gabriel Tolkowsky is quoted in The Telegraph as saying the re-cut is the “end of culture.” Daniela Mascetti, Sotheby’s jewelry specialist is quoted in The New York Times as saying “The provenance of a gem is important in ways that are not true of other things. The design incorporated over 700 diamonds, including a large pink diamond. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of our consultants at service@tswittelsbach.com or 715-764-1011. Never before have two such amazing blue diamonds been exhibited together. 382 likes. Custom ring for Blood & Iron western martial arts school Duke Franz of Bavaria, was born in 1933 and is alive today. The 35.56 ct Wittelsbach Blue is one of the largest historic blue diamonds ever fashioned. In both countries they had succeeded rulers from the House of Welf. Posts about House of Wittelsbach written by liamfoley63. But when the Infanta died in 1675, unexpectedly at a very young age, all her jewels passed to her husband. The Wittelsbach dynasty ruled the German territories of Bavaria from 1180 to 1918 and the Electorate of the Palatinate from 1214 until 1805. The 35.56 ct Wittelsbach Blue is one of the largest historic blue diamonds ever fashioned. Despite their uncanny similarities in history, color, and phosphorescence, our study clearly shows that the Wittelsbach-Graff and Hope diamonds did not originate from the same crystal. 46, No. https://historipediaofficial.wikia.org/wiki/House_of_Wittelsbach This causes undue restocking and inventory overhead and can be very costly. At that time a value of 240,000 guilders was applied to the diamond. Lang Antiques - 309 Sutter Street - San Francisco, CA 94108 - (415) 982-2213 © 2001-2021 Lang Antiques, All Rights Reserved. It belonged to the Bavarian House of Wittelsbach and was displayed in the Treasury of the Munich Residence until it disappeared in 1931. Jul 3, 2017 - Crown of Greece - King Otto of the House of Wittelsbach (http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE4A23CX20081103). If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of our diamond and jewelry consultants in person at service@tswittelsbach.com or 715-764-1011. This step helps protect you from fraudulent charges to your credit card. Especially grateful for the diamond cutter’s decision will be the Wittelsbach’s future new owner, the identity of which will be known in December of 2008 when the stone goes on the auction block at Christie’s of London. At Christie’s auction 7634: Jewels: The London Sale, held on December 10, 2008, the hammer came down for the Wittelsbach diamond at $24,262,008 (including buyer’s premium), far exceeding pre-sale estimates and breaking the world record for any diamond sold at auction. With its identity now restored, Mr. Komkommer put together a consortium to purchase the ‘rediscovered’ Wittelsbach blue diamond. Our prices are also subject to change without notice. House of Wittelsbach. While we make every attempt to avoid these errors, they may occur. This is a question that has intrigued gem lovers for centuries. Tomas Wittelsbach Teaching Zbrush for jewelry and art manufacturing Seattle, Washington Apparel & Fashion 3 people have recommended Tomas Fortunately the diamond cutter – understanding the magnitude of destroying such an impressive stone – refused to perform the cutting. You must make sure of correct sizing before ordering. The controversy about “enhancing” an historic diamond or other gemstone, by re-cutting or polishing the stone, rages on. In 1722 the Archduchess married the Bavarian Crown Prince Charles Albert. Due to shank details these rings are not resizable. Design consultation for prototyping. Collett-White, Mike. Ltd., 1999. What makes the Wittelsbach so special in the gem world is its classification as a rare type IIb blue diamond. HOUSE OF WITTELSBACH ZBRUSH JEWELRY WORKSHOP. Maximilian II Emanuel (July 11, 1662 – February 26, 1726), also known as Max Emanuel or Maximilian Emanuel, was a Wittelsbach ruler of Bavaria and a Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire. 73. Hinged largely on traditional European iconography and translated with crypt-like skeletons resurrected from a dusty underworld, the House of Wittelsbach reimagined what fine jewelry could look like. Platinum Award winner for fine art, Oliver Borgardts, Higher Lyrics Art of Germany, hits the high notes with his intricately detailed dancing violin player. Through extensive research, Mr. Komkommer was able to trace the blue diamond back to the House of Wittelsbach. After Maria Amelia's marriage to Charles Albert, the great blue diamond became the family diamond of the House of Bavaria, and came to be known as the Wittelsbach diamond. Any unused portion will remain available for future purchases under the same Gift Certificate Number. The answer did not come until the diamond resurfaced in Belgium for sale in 1951 and again in 1955. BACKWARDS WORKFLOW FOR PRINTING JEWELRY Presentation by Tomas Wittelsbach at Zbrush Summit 2016 Watc House of Wittelsbach is not responsible for lost or stolen gift certificates. In June 2011 the diamond was likely acquired directly from Graff by the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Chalifa, for a figure in the neighborhood of $80 million US dollars. I have been using Zbrush for over 11 years for sculpting objects of jewelry and art for print. 240. The Wittelsbach family is a European royal family and a German dynasty from Bavaria. For added security, it is our policy that a signature is required for all House of Wittelsbach orders over $750, regardless of any signature waivers you may have with FedEx. Later, Maximillian III set the diamond in a very elaborate floral design with the help of a Munich jeweler. At House of Wittelsbach, we make every attempt to ensure that our online catalog is as accurate and complete as possible. September 10th 1702, Ulm Maximilian II Emanuel of Bavaria, scion of the house of Wittelsbach, son-in-law to the Holy-Roman Emperor and successful commander in the Ottoman wars, has … In a Reuters’ news story dated November 3, 2008, Christie’s of London announced that the Wittelsbach blue diamond will be up for sale at their December 2008 auction. Tomas Wittelsbach is one of the leading authorities when it comes to jewelry design and digitally sculpting using software applications such as ZBrush. Please contact House of Wittelsbach at service@tswittelsbach.com of call 715-764-1011. Credit cards: Use your PayPal, American Express, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover card. We reserve the right to correct any and all errors when they do occur and we do not honor inaccurate or erroneous prices. In the early 1960s, the Wittelsbach diamond was almost lost forever when a Belgium diamond cutter was commissioned to re-cut the stone. Learn the art of high end jewelry and product design using Zbrush for 3D print prototyping. If you're interested in these services, call 715-764-1011 to speak to a consultant. ... Tomas Wittelsbach worked a sculptor in the film industry during his early career days and then jumped into the digital sculpting world after his friend David Krentz introduced him to Zbrush™ software. Balfour, Ian. Famous Diamonds, London: Christie, Manson & Woods Ltd., 2000. What we do know is that when the Infanta Margareta Teresa became betrothed to Emperor Leopold I of Austria, Philip IV decided to make the blue diamond part of her dowry. 2, Pp. Industry experts expect the rare stone to sell in the neighborhood of $15 million dollars. It will be interesting to see if Mr. Graff’s gamble pays off when, if ever, the renamed Wittelsbach-Graff goes back into the international market. House of Wittelsbach Furniture Automotive Knives Firearms Contact. Your credit card will not be charged unless your order total exceeds the amount of your gift certificate. “Large Blue Diamond Expected to Fetch about $15 Million,” London: Thomas Reuters, November 3, 2008. It was at this point that the diamond became a part of the collection of the ruling House of Bavaria, the Wittelsbachs, and thus acquired its name. With its identity now restored, Mr. Komkommer put together a consortium to purchase the ‘rediscovered’ Wittelsbach blue diamond. Once Charles Albert became the Elector he became so enamored of the stone that he had it reset several times, with each setting surpassing the prior one in beauty. Pages in category "House of Wittelsbach" The following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 401 total. Laurence Graff struck a deal with the Smithsonian to exhibit the newly re-cut Wittelsbach diamond, now named the Wittelsbach-Graff. Dieter Hahn, a leading German diamond cutter, is cited in Abu Dhabi’s The National as saying “This is barbarism. In 2005, he launched his own line of jewelry, the House of Wittelsbach. This sale presents the stone to the international market for the first time in eighty years. For other uses, see Wittelsbach (disambiguation). The Gemological Institute of America has graded the stone as Internally Flawless Type IIb and they have stated “… is the largest Flawless or Internally flawless, Fancy Deep Blue, Natural Color we have graded to date…”. Ownership records that had been kept in the Madrid archives were destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. Its disappearance caused rumors to run rampant as to its fate. House of Wittelsbach Education and Training. As Duke Franz doesn't have any descendants, the headship of the house will eventually pass … As a security precaution, we require that your alternate shipping address be on file with your credit card company. In 1180 Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I invested Count Otto of Wittelsbach with the much-reduced duchy of Bavaria Bavaria, Ger. With the blue diamond now part of the Austrian royal family, it was given – along with the rest of the late Infanta’s dowry – to Leopold I’s third wife, the Empress Eleonore Magedalena. All our prices are final. This list may not reflect recent changes (). House of Wittelsbach will contact you immediately to inform you of any shipping delays. free us shipping on orders over $50 & free us returns House of Wittelsbach Jewelry And Product Manufacturing. Comparison purchasing is the act of buying several items with the intent of keeping the one you like best and returning the remainder. Sep 11, 2016 - Silver Award winner for jewelry, House of Wittelsbach in USA for his ornate mermaid ring design, only possible for a talented expert. Shortly after the diamond came into the Wittelsbach family it was pledged to a banker as collateral so that the royal family could borrow some much-needed money. Silver Award winner for jewelry, House of Wittelsbach in USA for his ornate mermaid ring design, only possible for a talented expert. Our products are always available, since we produce them ourselves. House of Wittelsbach, German noble family that provided rulers of Bavaria and of the Rhenish Palatinate until the 20th century. It’s been used as part of a dowry and as collateral for a loan. Small but significant differences were observed in their red phosphorescence, as the Wittelsbach-Graff’s is slightly longer and more intense. House of Wittelsbach gift certificates are redeemable only at www.tswittelsbach.com. T he House of Graff is a world-leading modern Maison of exquisite jewels conjured from exceptional diamonds and precious coloured gemstones of extraordinary beauty and rarity. Romance of the Golconda Diamonds, Middletown New Jersey: Mapin Publishing Pvt. Max, Danielle. As of today, the Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond holds 4th place on our Top Twenty Diamonds & Jewels Sold at Auction. For inquiries, kindly send us a private message. Our objective is to provide you with as much information and detail about your prospective purchase as possible so that you can see the beauty and shape of a particular item. The name was taken from the castle of Wittelsbach, which formerly stood near Aichach on the Paar in Bavaria. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. Correct sizing is the customer’s responsibility. Currently, sales tax is only collected on orders shipped to addresses in the state of Wisconsin. FedEx Saturday Service, available in the vast majority of US cities, is subject to availability. That means that when your order is in transit to you, shipment is always risk-free. Seattle, United States of America. You cannot begin to describe the damage he has done. In a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the Wittelsbach-Graff and Hope diamonds will be on display together at the Smithsonian Institute from January 28, 2010, until August 1, 2010. House of Wittelsbach will provide you a store credit. INK METAL is a one-of-a-kind collection brought forth by master sculptor and veteran of the motion picture industry, T.S. “Going, Going, Gone: Buying and Selling Diamonds and Jewelry at Auction,” “From Auction to Outrage,” Idex, Idex Online S.A., April, 2010 Vol. Graff re-cut the 35.56 carat diamond to 31.06 carats in order to improve clarity, clean-up bruises and chips and enhance the stone’s brilliance. 283-286. Major differences were noticed during the examination with crossed polarizers and in the luminescence patterns observed with the DiamondView. Khalidi, Omar. Bayern, state (1994 pop. Gaillou, Eloïse, et al. Under no circumstances shall House of Wittelsbach be liable for any indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages of any kind, regardless of the form of action, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), strict product liability or otherwise, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Tony Rodrigues. Wittelsbach (vĭ`təlsbäkh), German dynasty that ruled Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. We fully insure each order all the way to you. Later, in 1962, the same blue diamond was presented for re-cutting to a Belgian diamond cutter named Komkommer. In order to give you the opportunity to view our products in great detail, some products may appear larger or smaller than their actual size in our photographs; and since every computer monitor is set differently, color and size may vary slightly. House of Wittelsbach Product Policies & Legal Notices. Pp.106-109. Certificate cash value is, 1/10 of one cent. To confirm the quality of a jewelry item, please call one of our expert consultants at 715-764-1011 and we would be happy to help you make your choice. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of our diamond and jewelry consultants at service@tswittelsbach.com or 715-764-1011. Then, at a World Exhibition held in Brussels in 1958, an unidentified large blue diamond was displayed without anyone’s realizing that it was the missing Wittelsbach. House of Wittelsbach Product Policies & Legal Notices. "Wittelsbach" redirects here. The buyer is reported to be famed London Jeweler and collector Laurence Graff. At one time weighing in at 35.56 carats, the Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond stunning blue diamond is believed to have been discovered in the famed Golconda mines of India, where many of the world's most historied diamonds were found during the 17th century. Through extensive research, Mr. Komkommer was able to trace the blue diamond back to the House of Wittelsbach. 11,600,000), 27,239 sq mi (70,549 sq km), S Germany. If Saturday Service is unavailable in your area, we can arrange for you to pick up your package at the FedEx World Service Center nearest you. It was secretly sold in 1951, “rediscovered” in 1961, and then sold again in 1964 to an undisclosed private buyer. The last monarch destined to wear the diamond was Louis II, King of Bavaria, who remained on the throne until Germany became a republic in 1918. It’s that rare diamond that could match its color to the blue-blood of its various royal owners. In 1933 and is alive today, call 715-764-1011 to speak to Belgian. 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