Improve your spiritual life with the help of jewels


World Famous Diamonds 5

The  Earth  Star  -  No  Pictureever found only surpassed by the Cullinan
diamond. Since a buyer could not be found for
The Earth Star was found in the Jagersfonteinsuch a large stone it was decided to cut the
Mine in 1967. It was cut from a raw stone ofstone into a number of smaller stones the
about 248.9 carats into a Pear shaped stonelargest being only 69.68 carats. It was
weighing 111.59 carats. At the time it wasstated by Alpheus F. Williams, who later
considered the largest faceted brown diamondbecame the General Manager of the De Beers
in the world. This particular stone shows acompany, considering the decision to cleave
degree of brilliance that is not usuallythe diamond into several smaller fragments as
found in gems with such a strong color. Itthe greatest tragedy of modern times in the
was sold in 1983 to Stephen Zbova of Napleshistory of famous diamond in the world. In
for  $900,000.1996 it was sold to Robert Mouawad for
$2,642,000.
Eureka  Diamond
Florentine Diamond - Cubic Zirconium
This gem is not exceptional but it was thereplication
very first diamond found in South Africa. It
was found by a shepherd boy in 1866 on theThis is another of the Great Lost famous
bank of the Orange River near Hopetown. Itdiamonds of the world. Only black and white
was passed from hand to hand by severalphotos exist of this famous stone prior to
people without it becoming know that it was aits disappearance in 1921. It is a
diamond until Dr. W. G. Atherstone of137.27-carat diamond with light yellow
Grahamstone came into possession of thecolorations with very slight greenish
pebble. Dr Atherstone was one of the very fewovertones. Legend has it that Charles the
people in the Cape colony who knew anythingBold, Duke of Burgundy was warring it when he
about gemstones. It was cut into a 21.25fell in battle in 1467. The diamond was then
brownish  yellow  diamond  and  sold in 1867.found on the body by a foot solder that
though it was glass. It is thought to have
Excelsior  Diamondbeen owned by Pope Julius II, The Grand duke
of Tuscany in 1657, and later as part of the
This stone was found at the JagersfonteinHapsburg Crown Jewels. It is believed to have
mine by one of the workers in a shovel fullbeen re-cut into an 80 carat round diamond
of gravel. Instead of giving it to histhat was sold in 1981 and its present
overseer as was required he hid it in hislocation  is  unknown.
pocket and gave it directly to the Mine
Manager. This 995.2 carat diamond hasThe  Golden  Jubilee
suffered a tragic fate ever since and is
considered to be the Great Unknown of famousThis diamond is currently considered as the
diamonds. It just happened to be found on thelargest faceted diamond in the whole world at
exact day that a consortium of London firms545.67 carts. Also known as the fire rose cut
that had the purchase rights to the minesdiamond, this diamond has a unique fancy
output expired. Had the diamond been found ayellow-brown color that made it one of the
couple of hours earlier the history of themost beautiful pieces of stone ever
Excelsior Diamond may have been muchunearthed. It received its name when it was
different. The Excelsior Diamond is thepresented to the King of Thailand in 1997 for
second largest rough diamond of gem qualityhis 50th anniversary of his coronation.



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