Le vol du Grand Condé

In October 1926, the “Grand Condé” a 9.01 carat pink diamond, exhibited in the Château de Chantilly, was robbed. Along with the diamond, the thieves grabbed a real treasure, composed of jewels and precious items, which had belonged to the prestigious dynasty of the princes of Condé and their last heir, the duke of Aumale. Two months later, it was found back in Paris: it had been hidden in… an apple. The most popular newspapers of that period were eager to tell this fantastic story. The way the discovery exactly happened was told differently from one newspaper to another. Yet, the “hiding it in an apple” thing remained a common trope, as incredible as it may seem. Anyway, the “Grand Condé” was given back to the Château de Chantilly. And yet, the diamond still keeps some of its secrets, even today. Louis II de Bourbon-Condé, nicknamed “le Grand Condé” and remote cousin of Louis XIV, has always been considered as its first owner. However, this ownership has never been backed by written sources. According to legend, the diamond was given to him as a gift by the Sun King, but is it true? Did the Prince purchase it himself? Did he ever own it? His post-mortem inventory, which would have been proof of his ownership, is missing. As a consequence, we can only speculate on the origin of the “Grand Condé”, which is an extraordinary gemstone, thanks both to its color and its story