The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-09-07
THE GgEAr AFRICAN DIAMOND
How it Was Found and How Carried to
London

An Amsterdam correspondent of the
Manufacturing Jeweler tells the story
Of the immense African diamond
Weighing 457 carats in the rough.
which ia in process of beingcut by Mr..
Jacques Metz, ono Of the largest dia-
mond-cutters of that city. The stone
| Is said to have "a somewhat curious
| history, and, though its exact birth
place Is only matter Of conjecture, IL
Ia known that IL was found by sonie-
| body i'll one of the four mines OF KIM
| berley, in the Cape Colony, South
| Africa. IG is said that in June or July
of last year one Of tho surveillance or
| ticers of the Central Mining company
IN the Kimberley mine found the
stone, and, being exempt from search,
carried 1T through The searching house.
unperceived, and sol6 &c TO four trey
ular dealers for $4,000. Before leaving
the province the new owners had a
night of drinking and gambling,
which onded in two OF them becom-
Ing its owners, instead Of four. The
two owners escaped the secret police
and reached Capetown, where they
found q dealer who readily paid them
$4,000 for the stone. There is an OK.
port duty on diamonds shipped from
Cape Colony OF u per cont, but it ap-
pears that this stone was struggled
out OF the colony by y passenger on
the mail steamer and brought to Lon.
dom. where ITS presentation at Hattou
Garden created great sensation. A
former resident at tho Cape mines
managed to form y company OF eight
persons, who bought the stone be-
tween them for 1926, 900 cash, on condl-
ton that the soller or sellers should re-
ceivo ninth share of the eventual
profits. The real value Of the stone
has been estimated NJ London at above
81, 100000. According to tho rules of
valuation Of the famous Teyernier
diamond, its value would DO 81, lGG $50.
The correspondent says that the art of
oiamond-polishing existing in
Amsterdam Tor more than three CEN
turtles has been brought TO such per-
lection That 1t Is expected that this
stono, weighing in the rough 4b7 carats
(and said TO DO winter and puerer than
any OF It's historical prodecessprs) will
lose, In working, much less than other
amous stones; that IL will 90 more
iApidly finished, anu IL has every
rhance OF remaining tho largest ani
finest diamond OF the whole world
ITO enter into comparisons" he SAYS.
"the Great Mogul, now in tho Per-
sian treasury, weighed In the rough
,S7 carats, but through the incapacity
of tho Venetian worKmen, the stone
lost in cutting 500 carats. Shah Jehsn,
instead OF paying for tho work, made
tho workman pay him u fino OF 10, 900
rupees, and would have taken more IL
he had 1t. As 1t IL, this stone is vet
tho largest of all known, Weighing
now $50 carats. The next in size Is the
Oriotl, forming the top of the imperial
Russian scepter, and weighs l95 carats.
This stone formed one eye of Brah-
min idol, and was stolen by French
soldier who fell in love with tho
beautiful eyes OF the Indian goddess.
Next In weight follows the Regent,
ono of the French crown diamonds. In
its rough state 1t weighed 30 carats; 1t
took twosyears TO cut II, and 20,OOOf
worth OF diamond powder was used
In It's polishing. Its present weight Ia
1905 esrats. Next We come TO tho
kohi-noor, the property of her
majesty, the queen OF Great Britain.
The stone was first cut In indie
holding ls6h carats, but il missed all
the hre that such a magnificent stone
ought to possess. Hence the queen
had IL recut In the brilliant form by
TIE eminent cutter Voorzangor, es-
paclelly ordered to London Tor that
purpose. Tho cutting was performed
IN u masterly manner, and, though
looslnR Sit carnts In working, Tue
stone was troblod In value. The Star
OF the Sbuta has also been polished
horo IN Amsterdam, nc tho mills of tho
lets Mr.. Costor. IL Is in the shape of
en oval brilliant, aud now weighs
, rs 1-l6 csrstan