Florentiner Diamond on public display in Quebec after century of mystery

The 137-carat Florentiner Diamond is on public display for the first time in over a century at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. The exhibition, titled ‘Hidden treasure: a century of mystery’, features jewels that were kept hidden by the Habsburg family in a Canadian bank vault for decades.

The diamond disappeared from public view following the fall of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1918, when Empress Zita fled with the family's collection. The Habsburgs sought refuge in Quebec during the Second World War, which explains the collection's long-term presence in Canada. Along with the diamond, the exhibition includes other historical items, such as a pocket watch belonging to Marie-Antoinette.

The display has triggered international ownership disputes. Austria claims the diamond is national heritage belonging to the republic, while Italy argues the stone originated from the Medici family in Tuscany and should belong to the Italian state. To manage these tensions, the Quebec government has provided legal protection to the collection against seizure for the duration of the exhibition. Meanwhile, the Austrian government has established a seven-member commission to investigate the legal feasibility of reclaiming the diamond.