A WONDERFUL DIAMOND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXII, Issue 7386, 31 October 1884, Page 6

A WONDERFUL DIAMOND.

{Prom the Time*.) A very extraordinary diamond, of no leas than 437 carats, has been shipped from South Africa, and soM by a London firm to a syndicate of diamond merchants. The colour equals, if not excels, that of the finest India diamonds, and in the opinion of competent judges it will cut to a perfect and lustrous brilliant. In drop shape it will weigh as nearly as can be estimated about 220 carats, or in lozenge shape, briolette, about 300 carats. The brilliant will therefore exceed in weight all the historical diamonds. The Koh-i-noor weighs 100 carats, the Regent of France 136 carats, and the Orloff, which was cut for weight, 195, carats. In size, colour, purity, and quality. It is expected to prove to be the most marvellous stone ever known.

Mr Bryce Wright writes to the Times with regard to the newly-discovered diamond:—"This gem is a blue-white, similar to the finest stones from the Jagerafontein mine, which is said to be (and most probably is) the true locality of this gem. There is somewhat of a mystery attached to the true origin of the stone, and from the secrecy displayed at its first discovery it is not improbable it has been procured through an ‘ illicit’ at Hie mine from which it is reported to come. The Jaggers-fontein mine, in the Orange Free State, has tor some time been only partially worked, and I believe many diggers could tell a rueful tale of their unsuccessful operations. If this monster stone has been found and sold in a strictly legitimate manner, it seems astonishing that all the diamond world has not heard of this wondrous gem before. It seems also peculiar that it should have been consigned to this country by a Port Elizabeth bouse. If it answers to the description sis to colour and purity, and weighs 437 carats, it certainly will be absolutely unique, and far outshine any other diamond known. The size, I need scarcely add, is not the primary consideration ; in fact, there is a larger stone at present ia London, but being nearly black, and the possibility of catting a translucent gem from it very remote, its value is simply that of ‘ boart/ unless a purchaser may be found with a mineralogical taste who will pay a fancy price to become the owner of the * largest diamond known.* But the speciality of the new gem is its colour and purity. Report says it was purchased in the first instance for i 115.000, and the syndicate now possessing it ask £200,000. Should it prove to bo the wondrous gem reported, this latter sum is certainly not too high a valuation for such a marvellous and truly unique stone.”