Premier Rose Diamond, Historic diamond in California, US
The Premier Rose Diamond is a gemstone with 189 facets cut into a pear shape by craftspeople at a cutting studio in Johannesburg. The finished stone displays meticulous cutting work that enhances how light plays through the gem.
The stone was discovered in March 1978 at the Premier Mine in South Africa, originally weighing 353.9 carats before cutting. News of the discovery remained private for two months before becoming known.
The diamond takes its name from Rose Mouw, wife of the master cutter Jacob Mouw who worked at his family's cutting studio in Johannesburg. This personal naming reflects how such exceptional stones become connected to the craftspeople who transform them.
Cutting this diamond was a labor-intensive process that required hundreds of hours of skilled work by specialists. Visitors should take time to examine it from different angles, as the quality of the facet work becomes apparent from various viewpoints.
The original rough crystal was divided into three separate stones during the cutting process: Big Rose, Little Rose, and Baby Rose. This division demonstrates how cutters sometimes intentionally split larger stones to achieve optimal shapes and quality.
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