Extraordinary Diamonds Part 2
Welcome back to the Stewart Kuper blog. Last time we looked at a couple of the largest diamonds in the world. These are the national jewels of royal families, stones representing the power of monarchies in ancient dynasties, or, sometimes just giant stones given to celebrities! We’re back with even more extraordinary diamonds!
Sergio
Found in Brazil in 1895, Sergio is the largest rough diamond ever found, weighing in at 3167 carats uncut. A carbonado, or black diamond, it is believed to be of meteoric origin.
Star of Sierra Leone
Discovered by miners on Valentine’s Day 1972, the Star of Sierra Leone is the fourth largest gem-quality diamond ever found, and the largest alluvial diamond. In October of that year the diamond was sold to jeweler Harry Winston for under $2.5 million. The stone was cut into 17 finished diamonds, 13 of which are flawless. The stone is rare in its perfect chemical purity. A type IIa diamond, it numbers among less than 1% of all diamonds.
Amarillo Starlight
What makes this stone so notable is the circumstances of its finding. The largest diamond found by a visitor to the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. Found by W.W. Johnson of Amarillo, Texas while he was vacationing, it was found at 16.37 carats but was later cut down. Its value is estimated between $150,000 and $175,000.
The Lost Florentine Diamond
This diamond has many names including the Tuscan, the Tuscany Diamond, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the Austrian Diamond, and the Austrian Yellow Diamond. It is first documented in 1657 when the French jeweler counted it among the possessions of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. When the Medicis died, the stone passed to the Habsburgs through marriage. After World War I it was taken by Charles I of Austria into exile and then stolen in 1918, taken to South America. It was rumored to be brought to the U.S. where it was recut and sold.
Meteors, found by vacationing Texans, and stolen and lost to the world. Diamonds find themselves the center of many twisting tales.
