It’s a scene that feels plucked straight from a Hollywood heist film — solely artwork imitated life a little bit too intently. In Could 2004, Components 1 descended on the principality of Monaco for its annual show of pace, opulence and wealth, however one glittering object stood out above all else: a $300,000 diamond on the nostril cone of Jaguar’s automobile. What may go improper?
The huge rock – which disappeared through the Grand Prix – was a part of an outlandish advertising and marketing stunt that resulted in one of many sport’s most weird unsolved mysteries. On the time, Jaguar Racing – which was owned by Ford – was underperforming, and desperately clinging to something that might assist them preserve relevance.
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With the George Clooney-led ‘Ocean’s Twelve’ film about to hit cinemas, a bunch of selling execs from Jaguar, and the movie’s manufacturing firm Warner Brothers, got here up with an concept. They determined to lean into the film’s premise of stealing jewels (although the movie was concerning the theft of a Faberge Egg) by inserting two huge diamonds – that have been uninsured – on the entrance of Jaguar’s vehicles.
Selling the movie Oceans Twelve with the Jaguar crew: George Clooney, Actor; Christian Klien, Jaguar; Brad Pitt, Actor; Mark Webber, Jaguar
Selling the movie Oceans Twelve with the Jaguar crew: George Clooney, Actor; Christian Klien, Jaguar; Brad Pitt, Actor; Mark Webber, JaguarSutton Photographs
Sutton Photographs
They partnered with diamond dealer Steinmetz, who offered two 1.4-carat white diamonds for Mark Webber and rookie Christian Klien’s vehicles, valued at round $300,000 every. When adjusted for inflation, that’s greater than $1M value of jewels. Even Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon have been on-hand to assist promote the stunt. However there was one downside: it appears no one had thought-about what would occur in the event that they crashed.
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The 2004 Monaco Grand Prix was solely Klien’s sixth F1 race. An uninsured diamond positioned on some of the fragile elements of an F1 automobile, being pushed by a rookie round a avenue monitor that’s identified for claiming entrance ends. You merely can’t make this up!
On the primary lap, Klien hit a barrier at Loews hairpin and frivolously broken the entrance finish of his automobile. He emerged from the crash unscathed and retired from the race, however the diamond was gone, by no means to be seen once more. The crew’s spokesman, Nav Sidhu, who was closely concerned within the ‘Ocean’s Twelve’ sponsorship later stated, “At that time, I in all probability ought to’ve been frightened concerning the automobile or the driving force. However, I have to admit, my fast thought was for the diamond.”
However there was no hint of the prized jewel when the automobile was returned to the storage after the race two hours later, and rumors shortly started swirling. With out footage of the crash, a number of theories began to take maintain. Some questioned whether or not the diamond had turn into lodged within the barrier, or swept up with different particles and washed out to sea by way of a storm drain.
Christian Klien, Jaguar R5
Christian Klien, Jaguar R5Steve Etherington / Motorsport Photographs
Steve Etherington / Motorsport Photographs
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Others have steered the diamond flew off earlier than the influence of the crash (in any case, it was reportedly solely caught on the automobile with glue) and was pocketed by an opportunistic spectator or marshal. Others even theorized that the actual diamond was by no means on the automobile, and Jaguar switched it out for a reproduction on the final minute, although Sidhu vehemently denied that principle.
All’s nicely that ends nicely, nonetheless, as Jaguar received precisely what it wished from the stunt: publicity. The story made worldwide information for weeks afterward, and although 2024 marked Jaguar’s final yr in F1, the crew was bought by Pink Bull, who would go on to turn into one of many sport’s winningest groups.
Greater than twenty years on, the sheer lunacy of the diamond’s disappearance continues to seize the creativeness of F1 followers. It’s virtually unthinkable {that a} room of executives would approve a six-figure gemstone being caught on the nostril of a automobile driving across the notoriously tight streets of Monaco. If the jewel was picked up by a fortunate onlooker, they maintain a glittering piece of F1 historical past from one of many sport’s most costly DNFs of all-time.
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