The Beau Sancy, one of the most celebrated diamonds of all time with a history of ownership by the Royal Families of France, England, Prussia and the House of Orange, has been put up for auction at Sotheby's Geneva.

The historic diamond was worn by Marie de Medici in her crown at her coronation as the Queen Consort of the French king Henri IV in 1610. It comes from the Indian Golconda mines and is expected to fetch around $ 2-4 million at the auction, to be held on on May15.

Golconda, located in south central India, is a major diamond center globally and has produced a number of celebrated diamonds including the Hope, the Koh-i-Noor and the Regent.

The Beau Sancy is one of the most fascinating and romantic gems ever to appear at auction and it are an immense privilege for Sotheby's to handle the sale, the artdaily quoted David Bennett, Chairman of Sotheby's Jewellery Department in Europe and the Middle East stating.

The renowned diamond was acquired during the 1500s by Nicolas de Harlay, Lord of Sancy (1546-1629), in Constantinople. It was later bought y Henri IV and gifted to his wife, Marie de Medici.

The diamond remained in Berlin after the last King of Prussia fled to exile in Nov.1918 at the end of World War I. At the end of World War II it was transferred to a bricked-up crypt for safe-keeping.

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