Centenary Diamond

The De Beers Centenary Diamond is 273.85 carats and is the third largest diamond to have been produced from the Premier Mine. The Centenary Diamond is rated in colour as grade “D” color by the Gemological Institute of America, which is the highest grade of colourless diamond and is “Internally” and “Externally Flawless”. It was named the Centenary Diamond as it was presented in the rough for the Centennial Celebration of De Beers Consolidated Mines on 11th May, 1988.

It took De Beers three years to complete the cutting of “The Centenary” which was finished in February 1991, with a final weight of 273.85 carats with its dimensions measuring 39.90 × 50.50 × 24.55 mm. The Centenary had a total of 247 facets: 164 on the pavilion and crown, and 83 on the girdle. While the stone has never been publicly appraised for value, it is known to have been insured at over US$100 million at the time of its unveiling in May 1991.

The stone was given on loan to the Tower of London, where it was displayed for a number of years. However De Beers no longer owns the Centenary and the current owner is unknown. Gabi Tolkowsky has said that he believes that the diamond was sold in June 2008 to a previously unknown young (some sources quote an 18 year old) entrepreneur, apparently of British/Israeli origin, who is living in the United States. De Beers declines to comment, citing its anonymity policy.