Did you know that a single apple was enough to foil one of the most astonishing jewelry heists of the 20th century? At the end of 1926, a few months after a burglary at the Château de Chantilly, a pink diamond of almost inestimable value resurfaced in a most unlikely place: the gem was found in a Parisian hotel, inside an apple! Having belonged to the château’s princely collections for several centuries, the famous Grand Condé weighed just over 9 carats!
A century later, the diamond was taken out of its safe: since October 17, the Condé Museum has been presenting a major exhibition to the general public dedicated to the stone and its incredible history. This time, there’s no question of a replica—the real jewel will be on display!
A priceless diamond with a wild history
On the night of October 11–12, 1926, burglars managed to break into the Château de Chantilly and the Condé Museum and make off with jewelry and other gems without being caught. It wasn’t until the next morning that the guards realized the theft had occurred, and they quickly realized that the centerpiece of the collections was also missing. Among the missing jewels was the Grand Condé, a slightly orange-tinged pink stone cut into a pear shape.
Although the thieves believed they had hit the jackpot, they soon faced a minor snag: how could they sell such a recognizable diamond, especially after all the publicity the case had generated, particularly among connoisseurs? Ultimately, the case was resolved later that December. At a hotel on Boulevard de Strasbourg, an employee took a bite out of an apple that concealed the missing diamond. The trail was subsequently traced back to the thieves, and the case was closed.
Prior to this incident, the diamond is said to have belonged to Louis II de Bourbon-Condé, a famous 17th-century military leader, who is said to have had it set on the pommel of his cane. Centuries later, we now have the chance to admire this precious stone for ourselves. In partnership with L’École des Arts Joailliers, the Château de Chantilly invites us to the Galerie de Psyché and the gem cabinet to discover this true piece of history!
Location: Château de Chantilly, rue du Connétable, 60500 Chantilly.
Dates: October 17, 2026, through January 3, 2027. Admission to the exhibition is included with the château’s entrance ticket.