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A $300,000 diamond attached to a Formula 1 car during the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix remains missing 22 years later. The precious stone vanished after a first-lap crash, sparking enduring theories about its disappearance.
Hollywood Publicity stunt
Jaguar Racing turned to Hollywood for promotional help in 2004 as parent company Ford prepared to pull the team from the sport. Former team principal Tony Purnell told BBC Sport that his role had shifted to selling the team while under strict secrecy.
Communications director Nav Sidhu arranged a collaboration with the cast of Ocean’s Twelve, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon, for the Monte Carlo weekend. Sidhu negotiated with diamond company Steinmetz to mount real gems onto the team’s two cars to mirror the film’s plot involving a stolen Faberge egg.
The Crash and the Search
The 1.4-carat diamonds were encased in steel and fixed to the nose cones of drivers Mark Webber and rookie Christian Klien. During a chaotic first lap, Klien collided with a Jordan car near the Mirabeau corner before striking the barriers at the Loews hairpin.
Sidhu contacted the diamond company immediately, but had to wait nearly an hour and a half for the race to finish before inspecting the stranded car. When he finally reached the vehicle behind the barriers, the diamond was gone.
Theories Behind the Missing Diamond
Several theories have emerged regarding the missing gem, beginning with speculation that it was a fake. Sidhu firmly denied this, stating that using a counterfeit stone carried too much risk of reputational damage for Jaguar and Formula 1. Purnell supported this, recalling that managing director David Pitchforth scratched a window with the stone to test its authenticity.
Another theory suggests a bystander pocketed the stone or swept it into a sewer. Sidhu noted that spectators often collect rubber debris and may have picked up the diamond without realizing its origin, especially in a city filled with high-end jewelry. Purnell even joked about a Hollywood-style heist involving the movie’s stars, though he acknowledged it was pure fantasy.
Others questioned whether Klien crashed on purpose, but Sidhu dismissed the idea, noting that racing points and constructors’ revenue were far more valuable than publicity or a lost stone. Purnell confirmed that Klien simply made a rookie mistake under pressure.
Ultimately, the missing diamond overshadowed the team’s poor race performance on the news broadcasts. Purnell stated that the massive publicity helped generate positive attention ahead of the team’s eventual sale to Red Bull six months later.
