Story Of 'Cursed' Regent Diamond: Know Its Indian Connection And Why Thieves Left This Legendary Gem In $100 Million Louvre Heist

In a daring heist that has stunned France, thieves made off with jewels worth over USD 100 million from the Louvre Museum in Paris, yet curiously, they bypassed one of the most famous and fabled treasures in history: the Regent Diamond. Authorities say the thieves’ selective targeting has left investigators baffled. “I don’t have an explanation for that,” Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau told Reuters. “Only when the suspects are caught will we understand what kind of plan they had and why that case was left untouched.”

While the stolen pieces represented immense monetary loss, Beccuau noted the greater damage was to France’s cultural heritage. “If they had the very bad idea of melting down these jewels, they would lose far more than they gain,” she said. The total damage has been estimated at USD 102 million.

Untouched Regent Diamond

Sitting safely in its glass case, the 140.6-carat Regent Diamond remains one of the Louvre’s crown jewels. Its survival in the heist only deepens its mystique. The diamond’s story begins in India’s Golconda region, specifically at the Kollur mine in present-day Andhra Pradesh, once the source of the world’s finest diamonds.

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Legend says a slave discovered the uncut 410-carat stone and hid it inside a wound on his leg to smuggle it out. But his plan ended in tragedy when an English sea captain betrayed and murdered him, seizing the gem for himself. This grim beginning is said to have cursed the diamond forever.

From Indian Mines To French Thrones

After changing hands in England, the diamond was cut and purchased by Philippe II, the regent of King Louis XV, who gave it its name, the Regent Diamond. Over the centuries, it adorned the crowns of Louis XV and Louis XVI, and even appeared on Marie Antoinette’s hat before she was executed during the French Revolution.

Later, Napoleon Bonaparte mounted it on the hilt of his sword, using it as a symbol of power. Yet he, too, met a tragic fate, exiled to the island of St. Helena, where he died in isolation.

‘Curse’ And India’s Hidden Legacy

The Regent Diamond’s violent and regal history has earned it the nickname of the “cursed diamond.” Its original discoverer was murdered, its royal owners were executed, and its imperial wielder died in exile. Perhaps, sensing its ominous aura, the Louvre thieves dared not touch it.

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