Lesson 2: Famous Gemstones and Jewellery
Diamond Encrustations
British Crown Jewels
Koh-I-Noor diamond: (“Mountain of Light”)
One of world’s largest diamonds
The Cullinan Diamond: largest diamond rough ever found
Hope Diamond
Deep blue colouration
Lack of internal flaws
Shows VS1 clarity
First sold to King Louis XIV
Top ten diamonds by size
Diamonds >10 carats = exquisite
Diamonds >50 carats = possession of museum/wealth people
Diamond >199 carats = not sold, history
Epic diamond = smaller diamonds of intense color with history
Top ten largest diamond
Golden Jubilee
Cullinan I, II
Spirit of Grisogonon Centenary
Jubilee
7th DeBeers Diamond
The Red Cross
Millennium star
Emeralds of Envy
Most impressive emeralds originate exclusively from Colombia
List of famous Colombian emeralds:
Mogul Diamond* (cut)
Rectangular shaped emerald
Inscribed with Islamic text, backside: carved poppy flowers
Hooker Emeralds: (cut Colombian emerald)
Patricia Emerald: (largest uncut fine Colombian diamond)
Regal Rubies
Rubies of the fines quality originate from Burma
Color of the finest stones is often referred to as Pigeon’s Blood Red
Pigeon’s Blood Red – red to purple-red color with medium-dark tone that is enhanced by a red fluorescence
Lists of famous Rubies
“Mogok Ruby” one of the finest cut rubies weights 15.97 carats
Two famous star rubies:
“Burmese DeLong Star Ruby” – 100.32 carats
“Rosser Reeves Ruby” – 138.7 carats
“Black Prince’s Ruby” – most famous ruby not a ruby at all, but instead a red spinel set in the Imperial State Crown just above Cullinan II diamond
Lesson 3: Significant People and Groups
Top producing countries for gold, PGMs, and diamonds
Prominent use for gold, PGMs and diamonds
Conventional diamond pipeline, from mine to market
Significant historical events of late 20th cent to their impact on De Beers Diamond monopoly
Role that organizations such as GIA