This diamond holds the record for the highest price ever paid per carat for a blue diamond.
Back in 2014, the Harry Winston corporation purchased the diamond at an auction for more than $23,800,000.00. At that time, it was known as “The Blue”, until Nayla Hayek (CEO of Harry Winston, Inc.) renamed it “The Winston Blue”.
The Winston Blue is a flawless 13.22 carat fancy vivid blue stone
Until I took it and hid it in a place that no one would suspect, it was located at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
Can you guess where I hid it?
Check out the clues below and let me know where you think the fancy blue diamond is hidden.
The area where I hid the blue diamond was once settled by the Romans. Many lived there prior to the Romans; however, they were mostly poor. The area wasn’t all that desirable, it was swampy, and the plague was a constant threat.
Even though it wasn’t an ideal place at the time, once royalty moved into the area, the place became more desirable. Nowadays the place is quite famous, the earliest known modern structure on the site was a brewery. I bet many people nowadays wish it still was.
The hidden location of the blue diamond is in a home. The street where the home is located was named after a sometimes brutal and unpleasant man. However, he was an able diplomat and eventually awarded a knighthood. This man named the street after himself and built cheap houses with poor foundations, a bad decision based on the boggy ground.
Not the name’s sake of the blue diamond, but a different Winston once said about the homes on this street; “Shaky and lightly built by the profiteering contractor whose name they bear.”
During man’s history, the Roman Empire ruled supreme at one time. At another time, Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire ruled supreme. During early modern history, Spain ruled supreme at one time too, but in my opinion and in the overall sense of hierarchy, they made it to only 10th place.
Many countries have had significant influence on world politics and global events. There has been and always will be a great deal of debate on the exact order. This is my opinion of who’s had the most influence throughout history: United States, China, Russia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, India, Ottoman Empire, Spain and Portugal.
The country where the home is located that now hides the vivid blue stone is amongst the ones listed above. This country reigned supreme once in history by winning wars and significant sea battles against other countries listed. Throughout the modern era, this country has significant power.
If you can guess the country where the home is located, then you have narrowed down the location of where I hid The Winston Blue.
The Winston Blue vivid blue stone is hidden in a house that sits on the edge of a palace. The palace was built by a king after he confiscated the neighboring house from a Cardinal back in 1530.
The house and surrounding land were huge. At one time in history, it had a Cockpit for bird fights and a Tiltyard for jousting.
Sometime later in history the house was “gifted” to the first person in charge of the country’s treasury. He refused the gift.
Throughout history the house was known by its occupants. Nowadays, like all homes, it has a street number. This house started life as number 5.
George gave his name to the street where the house sits. Look inside the house and you will find The Winston Blue diamond hidden under a famous antique hooded Chippendale guard’s chair. Back in the day when an actual guard sat in the chair, he stayed warm by way of hot coals in a drawer under the chair.
A very powerful lady once said, while speaking of this house, that it was one of the most precious jewels in the national heritage.
Are you close? Can you see where the blue stone is hidden?
Check back next week when I reveal the location.
Give Up? Where is The Winston Blue hidden?
Let’s break down the clues.
A royal palace was built on this location back in the 11th century by Canute I.
The area has been the center of government of this country ever since.
In recorded history, there was a brewery in the area before the palace was built.
For a while there were many homes in this area, most were built cheaply by an unpleasant man named George.
The country where this house is located is considered the 4th overall with the most influence throughout history. Only just under The United States, China and Russia. This 4th place country once defeated the 10th place country (Spain) by defeating them in a great sea battle.
The country Spain nor the battle they lost has nothing to do with the house where The Winston Blue is hidden. I only mention it because of the number 10. Keep reading, you’ll see why.
Back in the 16th century, the King at that time wanted to build a huge palace. So, he took this house and a neighboring house and built a grand palace.
Later in history the house was gifted to Sir Robert Walpole, who held the title First Lord of the Treasury and effectively served as the first Prime Minister. Walpole refused the property as a personal gift. Instead, he asked the king to make it available as an official residence to him and to future First Lords of the Treasury – starting the tradition that continues today. The brass letterbox on the black front door is still engraved with this title.
In the beginning, the street number of this house was No. 5.
The street where this house sits was named after George Downing.
The house is now known as 10 Downing Street.
And yes, back in the day an armed guard would sit in a hooded chair (to protect him from the weather) just outside the iconic black door. He kept warm by using a drawer full of hot coals under the seat. The chair is on display inside the residence.
And now you know. The blue stone is under the chair at 10 Downing Street, Westminster London, United Kingdom