FRANCE: LARGEST BLACK DIAMOND "THE VULCAN" OF 178,88 CARATS IS TO BE AUCTIONED IN FRANCE

Record ID: 860516

  • Title: FRANCE: LARGEST BLACK DIAMOND "THE VULCAN" OF 178,88 CARATS IS TO BE AUCTIONED IN FRANCE
  • Date: 13th June 2002
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 13, 2002) (REUTERS- ACCESS ALL) WIDE OF AUCTIONEER CHARLES PEIFFERT PRESENTING THE BLACK DIAMOND CLOSE UP OF BLACK DIAMOND SCU (SOUNDBITE) (French) AUCTIONEER CHARLES PEIFFERT SAYING: "It is a black single-crystal diamond of 178,88 carats. It has a natural colour and has been authenticated by GEM Tech Lab and Gubelin laboratories in Switzerland. Its shape is a pear, it is the biggest single-crystal diamond ever auctioned." CLOSE OF BLACK DIAMOND SCU (SOUNDBITE) (French) AUCTIONEER CHARLES PEIFFERT SAYING: "This diamond has been cut, it is only one crystal, it does not consist in multiple crystals as the one I auctioned last year." CLOSE OF BLACK DIAMOND SCU (SOUNDBITE) (French) AUCTIONEER CHARLES PEIFFERT SAYING : "It is estimated between 800.000 and 1.200.000 Euros". CLOSE OF BLACK DIAMOND
  • Embargoed: 28th June 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • City:
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Entertainment,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA4I0VLD5NSHEK2PQR8TBXGXUOK
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Buyers will have a chance to bid for the biggest single-crystal diamond to hit the world market when a sparkling 178,88 carat gem is auctioned in France later this month.
    Auctioneer Charles Peiffert said on Thursday (June 13) experts spent some 15 years chipping and polishing away at the black, pear-shaped gem, named The Vulcan - the largest single-crystal diamond to go on sale.
    "It is a black single-crystal diamond of 178,88 carats.
    It has a natural colour and has been authenticated by GEM Tech Lab and Gubelin laboratories in Switzerland. Its shape is a pear, it is the biggest single-crystal diamond ever auctioned", said auctioneer Charles Peiffert.
    At a press showing in Paris, Peiffert said that the diamond is the size of an egg, it is likely to sell for up to
    2 million euros ($1.13 million) when it goes under the hammer in Saint-Amand-Montrond in central France on June 27.
    The stunning stone, which boasts an interior of amber-coloured crystallised graphite formations, originally weighed more than 380 carats but was shaved down to half its size to show off its fine features.
    The diamond is mounted onto a platinum and white gold broach that would risk tearing all but the toughest of evening dresses.
    Peiffert last year auctioned the worlds largest black multi-crystal diamond, which weighed over 498 carats, for 12 million francs ($1.7 million).
    Peiffert said that the much smaller Vulcan would not fetch as much when it is auctioned on June 27, but is worth more euros per carat, due to its perfect form.
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