The $300K Diamond Heist at 200 MPH!
Hello, Richie D'Errico here. My brother Sal and I built D’Errico Jewelry from the ground up in the Bronx, and when a story involves diamonds and a touch of mystery, I pay attention. This one comes from 2004, when Jaguar Racing pulled a stunt that felt straight out of Hollywood during the Monaco Grand Prix. They embedded a real $300,000 diamond into the nose of their Formula 1 car to promote the film Ocean’s Twelve. Why? Because stars like Brad Pitt and George Clooney were attending the race, and the team wanted to match the glamour with something extravagant.
Now here’s where it gets interesting. On the very first lap of the race, the car crashed at the Loews hairpin. When the wreckage was brought back to the garage, the diamond had disappeared. It was simply gone. Some speculate that a track marshal might have discovered it and quietly kept it. Others believe it may still be lodged in a barrier or lost somewhere along the track. There was no security footage, no insurance claim payout, and certainly no diamond recovery. The mystery remains unsolved—like a scene that didn’t make the final cut of Ocean’s Twelve.
As someone who has set diamonds into everything from engagement rings to timepieces, I can say confidently: placing a gemstone on a race car is not a wise decision. Sal and I often remind our clients—diamonds are meant to be worn, not mounted on high-speed vehicles. It’s a fascinating tale, but next time, perhaps Hollywood should leave fine jewelry to professionals.
Browse Our Handpicked Selection of Large Diamonds:
https://www.derricojewelry.com/diamonds?labGrown=1&carat=7-20
Source:
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/how-an-f1-team-lost-a-300k-diamond-at-the-2004-monaco-grand-prix-/10724749/
Hello, Richie D'Errico here. My brother Sal and I built D’Errico Jewelry from the ground up in the Bronx, and when a story involves diamonds and a touch of mystery, I pay attention. This one comes from 2004, when Jaguar Racing pulled a stunt that felt straight out of Hollywood during the Monaco Grand Prix. They embedded a real $300,000 diamond into the nose of their Formula 1 car to promote the film Ocean’s Twelve. Why? Because stars like Brad Pitt and George Clooney were attending the race, and the team wanted to match the glamour with something extravagant.
Now here’s where it gets interesting. On the very first lap of the race, the car crashed at the Loews hairpin. When the wreckage was brought back to the garage, the diamond had disappeared. It was simply gone. Some speculate that a track marshal might have discovered it and quietly kept it. Others believe it may still be lodged in a barrier or lost somewhere along the track. There was no security footage, no insurance claim payout, and certainly no diamond recovery. The mystery remains unsolved—like a scene that didn’t make the final cut of Ocean’s Twelve.
As someone who has set diamonds into everything from engagement rings to timepieces, I can say confidently: placing a gemstone on a race car is not a wise decision. Sal and I often remind our clients—diamonds are meant to be worn, not mounted on high-speed vehicles. It’s a fascinating tale, but next time, perhaps Hollywood should leave fine jewelry to professionals.
Browse Our Handpicked Selection of Large Diamonds:
https://www.derricojewelry.com/diamonds?labGrown=1&carat=7-20
Source:
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/how-an-f1-team-lost-a-300k-diamond-at-the-2004-monaco-grand-prix-/10724749/