From "History of the famous stone" ..... Diamond Sentineri

From the cycle "History of the famous stone" ... Sentineri diamond was found in 1986 on the same South African mine, "Premier Mine," where eighty years earlier discovered the world's largest diamond - "Cullinan", and in 1966 was lucky to find more a famous diamond - "Taylor-Burton". And the history of this oldest diamond mine, also known as the "Big Hole", was produced almost 300 diamonds weighing more than 100 carats.


New amazing diamond giant weighing 599 carats, even in its original form was clear and pure as the water in the clear mountain lakes, through it could be seen. The company "De Beers" to keep secret a rare discovery and presentation postponed for two years, in conjunction with it to its centenary. March 11, 1988, during a celebratory banquet in Kimberley, fact finding unique diamond received a symbolic name "Sentineri" (eng. Centenary - a century), was made public.
The decision to cut the huge diamond was not taken immediately. Some in the leadership of the company De Beers wanted to leave the stone in its original form. Some believed that it will be enough just to polish the diamond to highlight its natural beauty. After the final decision of the Antwerp invited one of the best contemporary experts on how to cut gems Gabi Tolkowsky (Gabi Tolkowsky). Under his leadership, a group of experts within a month studying the diamond.
Cut future diamond Sentineri counted using multiple models. At the preliminary stage Gabi Tolkowsky chose the oldest and most time-consuming method of processing diamonds - removal of parts of the diamond hand. 154 days the master himself scratching grooves in the diamond, while not producing a single blow. The entire process of diamond cut took about three years and required tremendous efforts of an entire team of specialists. The work was done in the research laboratory of the corporation De Beers. There were developed special underground rooms full of noise insulation, which maintains a constant temperature. Only the preparation of tools and the creation of all necessary conditions took a year.
When processing Sentineri used, both old and modern techniques. As a result, by the beginning of 1991, nearly 600 carats of rough diamonds have turned into 273, 85-carat flawless diamond, shining all its dazzling facets 247. Never before had so many facets do not apply to the diamond. Approximate dimensions of cut stone - 50, 5 X 39, 9 X 24, 5mm. After the brilliant work of diamond Sentineri Gabi Tolkowsky has been recognized world leader in the art of faceting.
Sentineri unique not only in its form, but also the extraordinary transparency. It is believed that he is inferior to this index only the two largest "fragments" of the great Cullinan diamond that adorn the British crown jewels today. According to experts, Sentineri is the largest to date of higher diamond color category «D». Diamonds of this class is considered to be priceless. But, according to rumors, stone, insured for 100 million. Dollars, acquired the British royal family. Like it or not, it is not known: the company "De Beers" is not accepted to divulge the names of their clients.