The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-09

How 1t Was Found, and How Carried to
London.

An Amsterdam correspondent of the Manu-.
iacCurlne Jeweler tells the story of the immense
African Misunderstanding 457 karats in the
rough-wnlch is In process of being cut by Mr..
jacques Metz, one of the largest diamond cutters
OF that city. The stone is said TO have a some
what curious history and though it's exact
birthplace IS only a matter of conjecture it is
known that 1t was found by somebody in one of
the four mines of Kimberley in the Cane Colony
South Africa. 1t is said that in June or July of
last year one Of the surveillance officers Of the
Central Mining Company in the Kimberley mine
found the stone, and being exempt from
search, carried it through the searching
house impoverished and sold it to four
irregular dealers for $l5, 600. Before leaving
the province the new owners had night
of drinking and gambling which ended in two of
them becoming its owners instead OF four The
two owners escaped the secret police and reached
Capetown, where they found dealer who read
lily paid them $95, 600 for the stone. There is an
export duty on diamonds shipped from Cape
Colony Of per cent; but it appears that this
stone was smuggled out of the colony by pas
senger the mail steamer and brought to Lon
don, where its presentation at Hatton Garden
created great sensation. former resident at
the Cape mines managed to form company OK
eight persons. who bought the stone betweea
them for 1925 900 cash, on condition that the
seller or sellers should receive ninth share OF
the eventual profits The real value of the stone
has been estimated at London at above 81 000-
600. According to the rules of valuation of the
"a, loo, $50. The correspondent says that the art
of diamond polishing existing in Amsterdam for
more than three centuries has been brought to
such perfection that it is expected that this stone
weighing in the rough 457 karats land said to be
whittier and purer than any of its historical
predecessors, will lose in working much
less than its famous predecessors; that it
will be more rapidly finished, and it has every
chance of remaining the largest and finest
diamond of the whole world ITO enter into
comparisons" he says, 1.-THE Great Mogul,
now In the Persian treasury, weighed in the
rough 7S7 karats, but through the incapacity Of
the Venetian workman the stone lost in cutting
507 karats. Shah Jehan, instead of paying for
the work made the workman pay MIN a fine of
had It, AS it is, this stone is yet the largest of
all known, weighing now $50 karats. The next
in size is the Orloff forming the top of the i'm
perlal Russian scepter, and weighs 193 karats.
This stone formed one eye of a Brahmn idol
and was stolen by French soldier who fell in
love with the beautiful eyes of the Indian god
dess Next in weight follows the Regent, one of
the French crown diamonds. In it's rough state
it weighed 40 karats it took two years to cut it
and ~, 000f worth of diamond powder was used
in its polishing Its present weight is 1866
karats. Nextwe come to the Kohinoor the
property Of her Majesty the Queen of Great
Britain. The stone was first cut in Indie
holding 1861 karats, but it missed all the FIRE
that such magnificent gem ought to possess.
Hence the Queen had it recut in the brilliant
form by the eminent cutter Voorzanger, espec-
cially ordered to London for the purpose. The
cutting performed in mastery manner
and though losing 844 karats in working the
stone was trebled in value. The Star OF the
South has also been polished here in Amsterdam
at the mills of the late Mr.. Coster. 1t is in the
shape of an oval brilliant, and now weighs 125
716 karats."