The Millennium Star Diamond – the center of De Beers Millennium Jewels collection – was mined in Zaire in 1990 and weighed 777 carats in its rough form, making it the sixth-largest gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered.
According to the De Beers’ website, the Steinmetz Group invested three years in manufacturing the diamond. The stone was split in Belgium, polished in South Africa and then sent to New York for finishing work.
The design process entailed construction more than 100 plastic models of the diamond to decide on the best cut, which was determined to be a pear shape with 54 facets.
The diamond was unnamed until it was unveiled in October 1999, when De Beers Chairman Nicky Oppenheimer gave it the moniker by which it is known today.
In its final form, the Millennium Star weighs 203.04 carats The stone has a color grade of D and is reportedly the only known diamond in the world rated both internally and externally flawless.
The Millennium Star was displayed along with the rest of the De Beers Millennium Jewels (including the 27.64-carat Heart of Eternity Diamond) in London in 2000. The exhibit eventually moved on to Tokyo and Dubai.
