Golden Jubilee Diamond
| Weight | 545.67 carats (109.134 g) |
|---|---|
| Color | Unnamed Brown |
| Cut | fire rose cushion cut |
| Mine of origin | Premier Mine |
| Date discovered | 1985 |
| Cut by | Gabriel Tolkowsky |
| Original owner | Henry Ho |
| Current owner | King Bhumibol Adulyadej |
| Estimated value | USD $4-12 million |
The Golden Jubilee Diamond at 545.67 carats (109.13 g) is the largest cut and faceted diamond in the world. The Premier Mine is also the origin of the Cullinan diamonds in 1905 and other notables such as the Taylor-Burton in 1966 and the Centenary in 1986. Since 1908, Cullinan I, also known as the Great Star of Africa, had held the title.
Following the 1985 discovery of a large brown diamond of 755.5 carats (151 g) in the prolific blue ground of the Premier Mine in South Africa; it would later be cut into the Golden Jubilee Diamond. The "Unnamed Brown" as the Golden Jubilee was first known as something of a gemstone by most. It was given to Gabriel Tolkowsky by De Beers for the purpose of testing special tools and cutting methods which had been developed for intended use on the colourless D-colour Centenary.
Cutting and polishing large surfaces is renowned to the diamond because of its deep cracks from inside and several inclusions. The diamond was cut in a specially designed underground room free from vibrations. The yellow-brown diamond was transformed in a fire rose cushion cut, outweighing Cullinan I by 15.37 carats (3.07 g). The stone remained largely unknown to the outside world as the Golden Jubilee's sister and the Centenary that it took two years to bring it to its current state.[1] The unnamed diamond was brought to Thailand by the Thai Diamond Manufacturers Association to be exhibited in the Thai Board of Investment Exhibition in Laem Chabang and was selected to herald De Beer's centennial celebrations in 1988.
The Golden Jubilee was purchased from De Beers by a group led by Henry Ho of Thailand in 1995. The diamond was brought to Pope John Paul II in the Vatican to receive the papal blessing. It was also blessed by the Supreme Buddhist Patriarch and the Supreme Imam in Thailand. The Golden Jubilee Diamond (Thai: เพชรกาญจนาภิเษก) was named by King Bhumibol Adulyadej and given to him in honor of his 50th coronation anniversary. It was initially planned to mount the Golden Jubilee in the royal scepter. A subsequent plan was to have it mounted in a royal seal.[2]
The Golden Jubilee Diamond has been exhibited at Henry Ho's 59-story Jewelry Trade Center in Bangkok, the Central Department Store in Lad Prao (Bangkok) Thailand, and internationally in Basel (Switzerland), Borsheims in Omaha, NE, USA (owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc.), and Gleims Jewelers in Palo Alto, CA, USA. It is now located in the Royal Thai Palace as part of the crown jewels.[3]
The diamond is valued at 4–12 million US dollars.[4]