Famous Stones, Significant People and Groups, & Media Trends

Question 1

Name some important historic diamonds, their approximate size, and their geographic origins

Answer 1

• Hope Diamond, 45.52 carat blue diamond, India (most likely), 17th c.
• Koh-I-Noor (Mountain of Light), 105.6 carats, Queen Mother’s Crown
• Cullinan Diamond (largest rough ever found), 3106 carats –> 9 significant (Cullinan I through IX; Cullinan I = Star of Africa, royal scepter) and 96 smaller stones
• Dresden Green, 41 carat green diamond (radiation), India, early 18th c.
• Wittlesbach Diamond, 35.56 carats (later 31.06) blue diamond
• Winston Legacy, 101.73 carat colourless diamond (D-colour)

Question 2

Name some important historic emeralds, their approximate size, and their geographic origins

Answer 2

• The Mogul Emerald, 217 carat, Colombia, 17th c.
• Hooker Emerald, 75 carats, Colombia
• Patricia Emerald (uncut), 632 carats, Colombia

Question 3

Name some important historic rubies, their approximate size, and their geographic origins

Answer 3

• Mogok Ruby, 15.97 carats, Mogok Stone Tract of Burma (Myanmar)
• Graff Ruby, 8.62 carats, Myanmar
• Richard Burton Ruby, 8.24 carats, Myanmar
• Hope Ruby, 32.08 carats, Myanmar

–> “pigeon’s blood red”

• Burmese DeLong Star Ruby, 100.32 carats
  –> asterism
• Black Prince’s Ruby, 170 carats
  –> actually a red spinel, but it’s history makes it priceless (Imperial State Crown above Cullinan II diamond)

Question 4

What is the historic significance of famous diamonds, emeralds, and rubies?

Answer 4

Many have been/are owned by royalty and famous people, or set records for being the largest found or highest sale price

• British Crown Jewels
• emeralds - Pharoahs of Egypt; Spanish explorers brought back from Columbia
• rubies -

Question 5

What geographic locations are the largest and most famous diamonds, emeralds, and rubies from?

Answer 5

diamonds - India (Golconda region), South Africa, Botswana, Congo

emeralds - Colombia

rubies - Burma/Myanmar

Question 6

What are “Old World” emeralds?

Answer 6

emeralds found in Egyptian deposits, dating back to more than 1500 B.C.E.
- lower quality to what we mine today
- often fashioned into amulets, or beads that are then mounted in rings and pendants

Question 7

What is the approximate size of the largest cut diamonds?

Answer 7

200-545 carats, cut
(375-890 carats, rough, excluding Cullinan - 3106)

Question 8

Where do most of the top 10 cut diamonds by size originate?

Answer 8

Africa - S. Africa (7), Congo (3), Botswana (1)

Question 9

What are the top producing countries for gold?

Answer 9

Historically, South Africa - in 1969, 78% of global production

Now:
China (12%)
Australia
Russia
North America (Canada is 5th largest at 5.7%)
South America

Question 10

What are Platinum Group Metals?

Answer 10

Platinum (Pt)
Palladium (Pd) - least expensive
Rhodium (Rh) - most expensive
Ruthenium (Ru)
Iridium (Ir)
Osmium (Os)

• rarer than gold
• higher melting point than gold
• very good durability and strength

Question 11

What are the top producing countries for platinum group metals?

Answer 11

South Africa
Russia
US
Canada

Question 12

What are the top producing countries for diamonds?

Answer 12

South Africa
Australia
Russia
Angola
Canada (13.5% - third highest)

Question 13

What are the prominent uses for gold?

Answer 13

Jewellery production - majority
Electronics, currencies, investments - remainder

Post-pandemic - gold as investment increased to 47%, while jewellery was at 38%

Question 14

What are the prominent uses for PGMs?

Answer 14

Autocatalysts - primary use of platinum and palladium
Jewellery, electronics - other major uses

Question 15

What are the prominent uses for diamonds?

Answer 15

20% - gem quality
80% - industrial applications (abrasives - most common)

Question 16

What are the steps to take diamonds from prospecting and exploration to market?

Answer 16

1. Geological prospecting, exploration, and development of mine site
2. Production of rough diamonds –> Central Selling Organization
3. Sorting, valuing, sighting of rough stones by the Diamond Trading Company to Sightholders
   - gem/near-gem/non-gem parcels
   –> within these parcels - size, colour, clarity (‘sights’)
4. Cutting and polishing into finished diamonds
   - historical cutting centres: Antwerp, Mumbai, NY, Johannesburg
5. Jewellery and gem manufacturing and distribution
6. Retail stores and sales

Question 17

What role do organizations such as the GIA have in the jewellery industry?

Answer 17

Gemological Institute of America
- evaluations or certification of gems

Question 18

Describe some historical and current uses of gems and precious metals

Question 19

List factors that contribute to supply and demand of gems in current society

Question 20

What are some reasons that gemstones are considered valuable culturally? What affects their popularity over time?

Question 21

What is the CDCC and how does it regulate the authentification of Canadian diamonds?