Diamonds fight: bluevs pink - blue's history
The Wittelsbach diamond bears the surname of Empress Sissi, because it belonged to her family. However, it was bought by King Philip IV of Spain in 1664 for his daughter, the Infanta Margarita Teresa (above, in the portrait). When she died, very young, she passed to her husband, Leopold I of Austria, and then to her heirs. The pure Wittelsbach is a 35.56 carat blue diamond. It was recently auctioned at Christie’s in London for £16.4 million (almost €19 million) by British jeweller Laurence Graff. The last owner was Rachel Mellon, an American heiress also known for being the best friend of Jackie Kennedy Onassis.
