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28 March 2024

Precious Tiffany Diamond dazzles Dubai

(SUPPLIED)

Published
By Bindu Suresh Rai

Legend has it that the head of Tiffany’s Paris once bought the Yellow sparkler for a mere $18,000 when it was imported into the US back in 1879.

Years later in 1972, the ‘New York Times’ carried an advertisement offering to sell the famous 128.54 carat Tiffany Yellow at a measly $5 million.

With its last known valuation of $12m at the end of 1983, the Tiffany Diamond is one of the largest yellow sparklers ever discovered, originally weighing at 287.42 carats in the rough when it was discovered in 1878 in the Kimberley mines in South Africa.

Also famous for its association with Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn in the classic, ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’, the stunning piece has now wound its way to Dubai, it’s second ever travel from its home in New York.

Starting tomorrow, the Tiffany Yellow will take centre stage at the jewellery brand’s flagship store in The Dubai Mall, on display until January 9 as tribute to mark the company’s 175th anniversary.

A cut above

Considered as one of the top 10 legendary stones ever discovered, the 128.54 carat stunner is currently set in a spectacular diamond and platinum necklace, designed with 481 sparkling stones.

The necklace of white diamonds took over a year in making and totals over 120 carats and features 20 Lucida diamonds and 58 brilliant-cut diamonds.

The stone is just over an inch wide and seven-eighths of an inch from top to bottom.

The rough stone was brought to Paris, where Tiffany’s chief gemmologist, Dr George Frederick Kunz, supervised the cutting of the diamond into a cushion-shape brilliant with an unprecedented 82 facets – 24 more facets than the traditional 58-facet brilliant cut.
“Resetting the Tiffany Diamond represents a commitment to the future and design innovation,” said Jon King, executive vice president of Tiffany & Co in a statement.

He added: “The diamond is the most important gemstone in the world and honours the vision of our founder, whose acquisition of the stone established Tiffany’s diamond heritage.”

The diamond has been set on four previous occasions, two of which involve original designs by Jean Schlumberger, Tiffany’s renowned jewellery designer.

The stone was set in Schlumberger’s Ribbon Rosette necklace to promote the 1961 film ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’; and it was mounted in Schlumberger’s Bird on a Rock setting for the designer’s 1995 retrospective at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.

After its 2012 anniversary tour, the Tiffany Diamond in its new setting will return to its place of honour on the main floor of Tiffany’s Fifth Avenue flagship store in New York.