The eco-friendly, lab-grown diamond was gifted by Modi during a private dinner at the White House in June 2023 as part of his state visit hosted by President Joe Biden. At the exchange rate at the time, the diamond was valued at approximately ₹16 lakh.
In addition to the diamond, Modi presented Biden with several other items: a carved sandalwood box, a book titled The Ten Principal Upanishads, a statue, and an oil lamp, with a total estimated value of $6,232 (₹5,34,433).
While President Biden’s gifts were transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Jill Biden’s diamond was retained “for official use in the East Wing,” as noted in the State Department’s annual accounting.
The diamond, created in Gujarat’s Surat using advanced technology that mimics the natural process of diamond formation, was a symbol of India’s 75 years of independence.
Earlier in November 2022, Modi had gifted Biden a painting valued at $1,000 (₹85,755), according to the State Department’s records.
Modi’s gifts also extended to others during his time in the US, including an $850 (₹72,893) “Wall Hanging” for Kurt Campbell, Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs, and a $125 (₹10,719) “Camel Bone Box” for US Senator Charles Schumer.
Jill Biden’s second-most expensive gift came from Ukraine’s Ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, who gifted a “Steel Fragment Forget-Me-Not Flower Brooch” valued at $14,063 (₹12,05,979).
Meanwhile, President Biden received several expensive gifts, including a $7,100 (₹6,08,881) commemorative photo album from South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and a $3,495 (₹2,99,726) statue from Mongolia’s Prime Minister.
Under federal law, officials must declare gifts worth more than $480 (₹41,163) from foreign leaders. The report also noted that several CIA employees had received luxury gifts such as watches and jewelry, but most of these were destroyed. CIA Director William Burns, for instance, received an $18,000 (₹15,43,653) astrograph, but reported the destruction of an $11,000 (₹9,43,344) Omega watch.
While the gift-giving may be extravagant, Jill Biden’s diamond is likely to remain a notable symbol of India’s diplomatic ties with the US.
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