Mystery over huge diamond find

2007-08-28 10:18

Sherilee Bridge

Johannesburg - The world's biggest diamond, believed to be twice the size of the Cullinan Diamond, has reportedly been discovered in the North-West Province of South Africa.

According to a SABC Radio station, the stone found was twice the weight of the previous record-holder, the Cullinan Diamond, which weighed about 3 106 carats when found in present-day Gauteng province in January 1905.

The company responsible for the find has not yet been disclosed but the Safm radio station said the new stone has been transported to a vault in Johannesburg under strict security.

UK's daily The Guardian said in a report on Tuesday that the "circumstances of the discovery are shrouded in mystery".

"The diamond is expected to attract furious bidding from buyers worldwide and could fetch up to 15 million sterling," the newspaper said.

It quoted Fred Cuellar, the founder of Diamond Cutters International and author of How to Buy a Diamond, as saying he first heard about the find a few days ago.

Cuellar said the most important information about the latest find was yet to be forthcoming, including whether or not it is colourless.

"The reported size of the stone is accurate, but there are all these other factors we still don't know and what matters now is how wide, how clear and how well cut it will be," Cuellar said.

The Cullinan, which was cut into several smaller stones that now adorn the British crown jewels, was thought by some to be part of a larger stone which still lies somewhere undiscovered.

- I-Net Bridge

- I-Net Bridge (Business)