Eureka Diamond

Eureka Diamond
Weight 10.73 carats (2.146 g)[1]
Color brownish yellow
Cut Cushion-shaped brilliant[2]
Country of origin Cape Colony
Date discovered 1866
Original owner Erasmus Jacobs
Current owner The people of South Africa

The Eureka Diamond was the first diamond discovered in South Africa. It weighed 21.25 carats (4.250 g), and was found near Hopetown on the Orange River in 1867. The diamond, cut to a 10.73-carat (2.146 g) cushion-shaped brilliant, is currently on display at the Mine Museum in Kimberley. The discovery of diamonds in South Africa led to the Kimberley Diamond Rush, and marked the beginning of the Mineral Revolution.

Discovery

The diamond was discovered by Erasmus Jacobs, the 24 year old son of Daniel Jacobs, who owned a farm on the river. Jacobs was resting under a tree after searching for a long stick to clear a blocked water pipe at his father's request. He saw the stone shining in the sun, so picked it up and put it in his pocket. [1] Erasmus was using the stone in a game of five-stones when his mother noticed its shine. She mentioned it to a neighbour, Schalk van Niekerk.[3] Intrigued by the stone, Van Niekerk offered to buy it from Mrs. Jacobs, who instead gave it to him saying, "You can keep the stone, if you want it".[3]

Van Niekerk entrusted the stone to John O'Reilly, who took it to Colesberg to inquire as to its nature and value. The stone came under the view of the acting Civil Commissioner Lourenzo Boyes, who on seeing that the stone cut glass declared: "I believe it to be a diamond." [3] The stone was then sent by mail in an ordinary paper envelope to Dr. William Guybon Atherstone, the colony's foremost mineralogist, in Grahamstown.[3] Atherstone confirmed that it was a 21.25 carat (4.25 g) diamond[3] (although some sources put the weight at 24 carats (4.8 g)).[4]

First purchase to current time

The Eureka was put on display at the 1867 Paris Exhibition,[3] although some sources claim that this was a glass replica, and that the real diamond was sent on to Windsor for inspection by Queen Victoria.[4] On its return to South Africa, the Eureka was bought for £500 by the Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir Philip Wodehouse.[3][4] Sir Philip took it with him to the United Kingdom, where it remained for 100 years, during which time it was cut. On 16 April 1946, the Eureka was sold in London at a Christie's public auction as part of a bangle, for £5,700.[5] In 1967, 100 years after the diamond's discovery, De Beers purchased the diamond and donated it to the South African people. The diamond was placed in the Kimberley Mine Museum, where it is currently on display.[4][6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Harlow, George E (1904). The Nature of Diamonds. Cambridge University Press. pp. 79–80. ISBN 978-0-521-62935-5. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
  2. ↑ Michael O'Donoghue (2006). Gems: their sources, descriptions and identification. Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 692. ISBN 0-7506-5856-8.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Williams, Gardner Fred (1904). The diamond mines of South Africa. New York, B. F. Buck & company. pp. 117–120. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Eureka". De Beers. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
  5. ↑ "The Eureka". London Diamond Bourse. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  6. ↑ SA Venues entry on the Kimberley Mine Museum

External links

External images
Photo of Erasmus Stephanus Jacobs by Homer L. Shantz taken 21 September 1919. From the University of Arizona library

Coordinates: 28°44′18″S 24°45′17″E / 28.738237°S 24.754727°E