Qatari Sheikh Loses £21 Million Idol's Eye Diamond Lawsuit

A High Court in London ruled against Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, cousin of Qatar's ruler, in a legal dispute over the 70-carat Idol's Eye diamond, previously owned by the late Sheikh Saud bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Thani. The court found no firm agreement existed for the sale of the diamond, which Sheikh Hamad claimed he was entitled to purchase for £7.8 million based on a purported offer from 2020. Elanus Holdings, the company linked to Sheikh Saud's family, argued that the letter indicating a sale was sent in error and maintained the diamond's value at approximately £21 million, significantly higher than the claimed sale price. Judge Simon Birt concluded that Sheikh Hamad's claims lacked a definitive agreement to sell, stating that discussions about a potential sale had not reached a conclusive decision. The Idol's Eye, a historic diamond linked to the Ottoman Empire, has become a contentious family heirloom amid royal rivalries. This ruling highlights the complexities surrounding ownership and valuation of valuable art and artifacts within royal families.