The Tiffany Diamond

It was found in 1878 in the Kimberley mine, weighted 287,42ct in its rough state. When cut this stone received 90 facets and now weights 128,51ct.

It is believed the Tiffany Yellow was found in either 1877 or 1878. The lack of exact information concerning the correct date of its discovery extends to its location as well; this has been variously described as the 'the De Beers Mines' or 'the Kimberly Mines'.

The finding of the Tiffany Yellow took place before accurate records of the discovery of large diamonds from South Africa were kept.

However, the clue to its location has been supplied by one writer who has stated it was found in the mines of the French Company.

This was the colloquial name for the Compagnie Franais de Diamant du Cap, an important mining concern, the existence of which sparked off the most momentous financial struggle which the diamond industry has witnessed.

The head of Tiffany jewelers' office in Paris, Mr. Gideon Reed, bought the Tiffany Yellow for $18,000, on behalf of the firm, whence it was imported into the United States in 1879.

Initially, little publicity attended the diamond after its arrival there.

A deliberate policy which has been ascribed by Charles Tiffany's fears that, as yellowish diamonds were being produced in South Africa in greater quantities than ever before, this particular diamond might merely be one of many such stones.

However, it is important to draw a distinction between light yellow and yellowish diamonds and those of the rare deeper canary yellow; the Tiffany Yellow remains one of the finest examples of the latter of the three.

In 1957 the stone was appraised in 2 Million Dollars.