Quick Facts
The Story
The Golden Jubilee Diamond is a 545.67 carat fancy yellow-brown diamond and, per Guinness World Records, the largest cut diamond in the world, surpassing the Cullinan I by about 15 carats. It was cut from a heavily fractured 755.5 carat rough found in 1985 at the Premier Mine in South Africa, the same mine that produced the Cullinan. The stone is part of the Thai royal collection in Bangkok.
Master cutter Gabriel "Gabi" Tolkowsky worked on the stone from 1988 to 1990, using the difficult rough as a testbed for new cutting methods and producing a fire rose cushion cut that revealed a golden yellow-brown color. In 1995-1996 De Beers exhibited the diamond in Thailand, where a group of Thai businesspeople led by Henry Ho purchased it for approximately US$6 million.
The group presented the diamond to King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1997 to mark his Golden Jubilee, the 50th anniversary of his accession to the throne, which gave the stone its name. Before the presentation it was blessed by Pope John Paul II at the Vatican and by Thailand's Supreme Buddhist Patriarch. It remains part of the Thai royal regalia in Bangkok.
Ownership Timeline
1985-1996
De Beers
Recovered the 755.5 carat rough at the Premier Mine in 1985; Gabriel Tolkowsky cut the stone between 1988 and 1990.
1996-1997
Thai business group led by Henry Ho
Purchased the diamond for approximately US$6 million after De Beers exhibited it in Thailand.
1997-present
Thai Crown (gift to King Bhumibol Adulyadej)
Presented to the king for the 50th anniversary of his accession; kept with the royal regalia in Bangkok.
Notable Events
1985
Discovery at the Premier Mine
A 755.5 carat brown rough diamond is recovered at the Premier Mine in South Africa, the mine that also produced the Cullinan.
1990
Cutting completed by Gabi Tolkowsky
After roughly two years of work beginning in 1988, Gabriel Tolkowsky finishes the 545.67 carat fire rose cushion cut, the largest faceted diamond ever produced.
1996
Purchase by Thai business group
A group of Thai businesspeople led by Henry Ho buys the diamond from De Beers for approximately US$6 million after it is exhibited in Thailand.
1997
Presented to King Bhumibol Adulyadej
The diamond is given to the king to commemorate his Golden Jubilee, the 50th anniversary of his accession to the throne, after blessings from Pope John Paul II and Thailand's Supreme Buddhist Patriarch.
Sources & References
The provenance and facts on this page are drawn from and can be cross-checked against these sources.
- WikipediaGolden Jubilee Diamond
- Guinness World RecordsLargest cut diamond
- Natural Diamond CouncilThe Golden Jubilee: The Largest Gem-Quality Diamond Ever Cut
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