The Golden Jubilee Diamond was discovered in De Beers’ Premier Mine in South Africa in 1986 and is the eighth-largest gem-quality diamond ever unearthed. In its rough form, the Fancy Yellow Brown diamond weighed 755.50 carats.
According to the De Beers website, the rough diamond contained several inclusions and a number of cracks. The process of cutting the diamond took two years and was entrusted to master cutter Gabi Tolkowsky. When it was completed in 1990, the stone weighed 545.65 carats, making it the world’s largest faceted diamond.
Tolkowsky described the diamond’s final cut as “Fire-Rose cushion shape.”
After it was cut, De Beers lent the diamond to the Thai Diamond Manufacturers Association, who put it on display. At one point, the line of visitors waiting to view the diamond was over a mile long.
In 1995, the cut diamond was purchased by a group of businessmen from Thailand as a present to mark King Bhumibol’s 50th anniversary as king – his Golden Jubilee – the event that gave the diamond its name. The diamond was blessed by Pope John Paul II, the Supreme Buddhist Patriarch, and by Thailand’s Supreme Imam.
The diamond is now part of Thailand’s crown jewels and is displayed at the Royal Museum at Bangkok’s Pimammek Golden Temple.
