Centenary Diamond does not boast of a history as long or complicated as the history of some other diamonds. Aided by an X-ray imaging system, excavators found this enormous stone in the Premier Mine in July 1986. It weighed 599 carats (119.8 grams) before lapidaries cut it. It is among the three largest (holding the third place) diamonds from the Premier Mine. Further, Having the highest GIA color grade of D, it is flawless internally and externally.
Centenary Diamond
At the 100th anniversary of De Beers Consolidated Mines on May 11, 1988, organizers showed the rough of the Centenary Diamond to the public for the first time. At the time, Julian Oglivie Thompson was the chairman. He said, “We have found a 599-carat diamond with perfect color at the Premier Mine. It is among the largest top-color diamonds ever found.” It will be called the Centenary Diamond, of course.”
Lapidaries CutThe Centenary Diamond:
Cutting such a large and valuable stone as the Centenary diamond takes a lot of skill. De Beers chose Gabi Tolkowsky to lead the team that would do the job. Specially selected security guards, engineers, and electricians constituted the team. Further, De Beers built a customized underground room to help with the operation. Finally, the crew kept mechanical vibrations, temperature changes, and other things that could get in the way of cutting the stone to a minimum. These crucial steps helped minimize errors that could have damaged the irreplaceable stone.
The team hand-cut the Centenary Diamond into an egg-shaped gem that weighs about 500 carats, an activity that took 154 days. The De Beers board saw 13 different designs proposed by cutting experts working on the jewel. Even so, the modified heart-shaped design was the one they liked best. Documents with the diamond said, “The Centenary Diamond looks like a heart, but it doesn’t have a groove.” Moreover, the team thought of a shape that would look good on the headwear of a Sultan.” So the board chose the heart shape, and the group continued cutting the diamond.
February of 1991 saw the completion of this gem. A total of 247 facets ornamented this beautiful gem. One hundred sixty-four facets bedeck the pavilion and crown while another 83 inscribe the girdle. The value of the Centenary diamond has never been made public. However, it was insured for more than USD 100 million when De Beers showed it to the public in 1991.
The Jewel is Shrouded in Mystery:
The De Beers Corporation was happy to lend the Centenary Diamond to the Tower of London. As a result, the public saw it for several years here. Furthermore, there is some mystery about who owns the stone now. People think that De Beers no longer owns the Centenary Diamond, but the new owner is unknown. De Beers hasn’t said anything about who owns the Centenary diamond because of its strict privacy policy.
How Much Would Someone Pay For The Centenary Diamond?
Only the Cullinan I and Cullinan II diamonds are larger than the Centenary for diamonds with the best color. In 1991, Nicholas Oppenheimer, the Deputy Chairman of De Beers, said, “Who can put a price on such a stone?” Given how mysterious it is about where it is today, many people want to know more about the stone. No one knows how much the Centenary diamond is worth. It is “priceless” because it is one of a kind, so big, and so pure.
Read About More Famous Diamonds As Follows:
| The Orloff Diamond | The Cullinan Diamond |
| Eureka Diamond | The Esperanza Diamond |
