Is the Mega Diamond the Real Deal?
Could a greenish stone the size of a coconut be the world's largest diamond? The BBC reports that a shareholder in an unnamed mine in South Africa has found the stone shown here. The stone is said to be about 7,000 carats, making it around double the size of the famous Cullinan Diamond. There is some question over whether the stone is a diamond. Brett Jolly, a spokesperson for the company, has said that the stone was taken to a bank vault in Johannesburg and would undergo tests. So far the only evidence of the stone is a low resolution photo showing a stone that could be anything, another type of crystal or even glass. Not revealing where a stone of this size is found is common for security purposes. If this stone is genuine, it will be one of the most amazing finds in recent times.
UPDATE: The Telegraph reports that the stone, now dubbed the Green Giant is set to be examined by renowned gemologist, Ernest Blom, the president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
James Brown Aug 29th 2007 10:44PM
Someone needs to proofread their posts before posting them.
Leroy W. Thompson Sep 1st 2007 8:17PM
I must admit, it is a beautiful looking stone and I wouldn't mind having the noney it could represent. But my biggest thought is, What good is a stone of that size? If it's just to be kept locked up in some vault, somewhere. I really can,t see someone with it on their finger, or around their neck. Go ahead and enlighten me.
Phyllis Kunz Sep 1st 2007 8:25PM
I am green with envy.
Leroy W. Thompson Sep 1st 2007 8:25PM
Mr. Brown.........
Thanks for the proof reading lesson. I guess my typing with one arthritic finger needs help. By the way, do you think you could respond to the intent of my comment? What constitutes the value of something that needs to always be hidden?
Vivi Sep 1st 2007 8:42PM
I for one person, wouldn't have any use for the thing. What good is it to anyone?
Rogduckett Sep 1st 2007 8:51PM
I understood the article to say it was only to be kept in a vault while it underwent further testing. If it does turn out to be a diamond, then it will probablyl be cut into thousands of 1-to-100 carat pieces for jewelry.
Rog
sue Sep 1st 2007 8:53PM
nice paperweight
Ms J Sep 1st 2007 9:12PM
Watch out Superman.. Kryptonite has been found !!!
Al Sep 1st 2007 9:27PM
Calling Liz Taylor!
Maggie Sep 1st 2007 9:33PM
It looks great, but I don't think that colored diamonds will ever go over big with those of us who are not rich and famous LOL! None of our friends would know they were diamonds!
If this does, indeed, turn out to be a green diamond the owning company could decide to keep it intact just for the uniqueness of having the largest diamond in the world.
Bill Petrell Sep 1st 2007 9:39PM
My cousin Natalie would wear it!
rick Sep 1st 2007 9:44PM
anyone want to see me naked with that diamond in my asshole?
debbie723 Sep 1st 2007 9:56PM
It represents a record and will most likely be on exhibit in a museum
Susan Simpson Sep 1st 2007 10:00PM
Mr. Leroy Thompson
I am no diamond or jewelry expert, although, typically as a woman I enjoy beautiful jewelry.
I believe the worth of the stone is mainly it's rarity, and that the ownerr can have "bragging rights" to such a unique stone. Some folks would rather have a "one of a kind", even if it's ugly, to make them feel special.
The other side of the coin (in this case stone), is that if they choose to, they can cut this mega diamond into several very valuable and large stones for individual pieces.
I hope it is real--I can see the beauty in the green.
kerstinerben Sep 1st 2007 10:18PM
Sorry Rick, but your comment was just stupid and rude.
I think that the diamond looks cool no matter what color it is. I don't think that it should be cut up, that would defeat the purpose of having the world's biggest diamond. I'd put it in a shadow box with security on it!
Erinn Sep 1st 2007 10:26PM
If the stone is indeed a diamond, it would be very unlikely that it would be cut up into smaller stones. That would devalue it. Price per carat increases with the size of the diamond, an example being that 10 stones adding up to a carat (maybe worth 2,000 dollars total)are worth nowhere near what a single one carat stone is worth (around 7,000 dollars). Also, unheated fancy colored diamonds (meaning diamonds that have not been heated to make them a fancy color) are an EXTREME rarity in any size, especially colors like red, GREEN and purple (yellow and brown are exceptions, not terribly rare in the colored diamond world). Most rare, fancy colored diamonds are rather small. So if indeed this is a green diamond with good color and clarity combined with it's extroidanary size, cutting it up would be a huge mistake. Likely, they will either just leave it in it's natural form and polish it only, or they will cut it into the largest diamond possible given it's size and where any inclusions lie. What lands on the cutting room floor, or the scrap, could be cut into a few smaller stones, but the aim would be to keep it as large as possible.
As far as what you would do with it, that is not the question here. A stone like this is gemologially important if it is a diamond. And for those of you who own and wear diamonds, no matter the size, it's important to remember that what you are wearing is millions of years in the making. Next time you look at your diamond, think about just how old it really is, and that you own a peice of the earth's hostory.
Corbin Sep 1st 2007 10:27PM
I wonder how much they paid the child or worker who actually discovered it...Hmm...
john Sep 1st 2007 10:34PM
Well, they are not going to cut it down very much, maybe to remove a few inclusions near the surface, give it some interesting surfaces and polish it. When you cut a diamond down to smaller sizes, say 7,000 one carat diamonds, you reduce the total value of the stone. One 2 carat diamond is worth more than two 1 carat diamonds.
Mark Sep 1st 2007 10:53PM
The one problem I see with it is it looks so smooth to have just come out of the ground. The edges are sharp and it looks as though it has already been polished. Being twice as large as the next biggest diamond I am sure it would be cut into a new shape much like the Hope diamond was to beautify it. Would the hope diamond be worth looking at had they not cut and polished it?
Edclark1952 Sep 1st 2007 10:56PM
Sure would make 7,000 people happy. Money is the greed of all mankind!