The Most Famous Diamonds, Pt. 1

The Kahn Canary
4.25 carats (rough)

Unearthed in Crater of Diamonds State Park, near Murfreesboro, Arkansas in 1977, the Kahn Canary is considered to be an unofficial symbol of the state. Bought and named by Stan Kahn of Love Story® jeweler Kahn Jewelers of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, the Kahn Canary has been lent to Hillary Rodham Clinton to wear at all of her husband's inaugurals, both as Governor of Arkansas, and as President of the United States.

The Kahn Canary is very rare in comparison to other diamonds. Because of its flawless condition and pleasing natural triangular pillow shape, the Kahn Canary has remained uncut. Its intense yellow color and brilliance impress all those who see it. Because of its natural, uncut form, the Kahn Canary is a perfect example to represent Arkansas, nicknamed "The Natural State." The diamond is presently mounted in a ring custom-designed for Mrs. Clinton for the 1993 Inaugural.

George Stepp of Carthage, Arkansas discovered the diamond. He later sold the stone to Kahn. Crater of Diamonds State Park is the world's only publicly owned diamond site where visitors may search for diamonds and other gems and keep what they find, regardless of the value of the stone. The park's 36 and 1/2-acre search area is the eroded surface of an ancient gem-bearing volcanic pipe. Besides diamonds, other precious and semi-precious stones found within the volcanic matrix include amethyst, garnet, jasper, agate and quartz.

The Eureka
10.73 carats

This 10.73 carat brilliant is not, by ordinary standards, exceptional. However, it was cut from the first diamond found in South africa and therefore has historical significance and, as such, the stone has been appropriately named. In 1867, a boy named Erasmus Jacobs found a pebble near the banks of the Orange River. a month later a neighbor offered to buy teh stone; Mrs. Jacobs refused payment and GaVE the stone to him. Later the 21-carat rough was cut into this 10.73 brilliant.

The Hortensia
20 carats

This peach colored stone was named after Hortense de Beauharnais, Queen of Holland, who was Josephine's daughter and the stepdaughter of Napoleon Bonaparte. The Hortensia had been part of the French Crown Jewels since Louis XIV bought it. You can see the Hortensia on display in the Louvre, Paris.

The Transvaal Blue
25 carats

This blue pear shape was cut from a rough found in the Premier Mine, Transvaal, South africa. It was once owned by Baumgold Bros., but has been sold since then to an undisclosed buyer.

The Sultan Of Morocco
35.27 carats

Very little is known about this diamond. In 1969, Cartier's lent this blue-gray diamond to the New York State Museum for their World of Gems exposition. In 1972 it was sold to a private american collector.

The Dresden Green
41 carats

This almond-shaped stone is the largest apple-green diamond known. although of Indian origin, nothing was known of it until Frederick augustus II of Saxony purchased the diamond at the Leipzig Fair in 1743 for about $150,000.

Set in an elaborate shoulder knot, the stone was exhibited with the other Crown Jewels of Saxony in the famous Green Vaults under the Dresden Palace. after World War II, the Russians confiscated these gems, but they were returned to Dresden in 1958, and are again on display in the palace.

The Kimberly
55.09 carats

Originally a 490-carat rough, this champagne colored stone named after the Kimberly Mine in South africa, was cut to 70 carats in 1921, and to its current emerald shape in 1958. The Kimberly was widely exhibited until it was sold to an undisclosed collector from Texas in 1971.