Oct

The De Beers diamond

The De Beers diamond was found in Kimberly mines in 1888. The rough stone weighed 428.50 old carats and was a huge light yellow octahedral crystal. It is not known where the De Beers diamond was cut but some features of the cleavage make experts believed that it is very likely that the work was carried out in Amsterdam.

Polished and cut, the De Beers is the 8th largest faceted diamond in the world. The Maharaja of Patiala bought the De Beers diamond after a display in Paris. It became the centerpiece of ceremonial Patiala Necklace and the setting was made by Cartier of Paris in 1928. The necklace with the De Beers diamond centerpiece originally contained about 2,930 diamonds weighing about 962.25 carats.

De Beers diamond front view

Today’s whereabouts of the De Beers diamond and the Patiala Nacklace is unknown and it is said to be disappeared. Yet, in 1998, someone came upon the remnants of it in a second hand jewelry shop in London. All of the big stones were gone: seven stones ranging from 18 to 73 carats set above a pendant, and the 234.69-carat De Beers Diamond.