Origin of the name
of the Tiffany Diamond
The Tiffany
Diamond was named after its first known owner, Charles Lewis Tiffany, the
famous Fifth Avenue Jeweler.
History of the Tiffany Diamond
The Tiffany diamond was
found in 1878 at the Kimberley mine in South Africa, the
French-owned part of the De Beers Mines. It was shipped to Paris
where it was shown to Tiffany representatives of Tiffany
including the company's famous gemmologist George F. Kunz. The
decision was made to purchase the rough stone ( they paid
$18,000) and George F. Kunz was commissioned to design the
cut. The Tiffany Yellow Diamond was shipped to New York on the
City of Chester on June 15, 1880. The diamond was exhibited at
numerous venues including the following:
- 1893 - Chicago Columbian exhibition
- 1901 - Pan-American exhibition
- 1933 - Chicago Century of Progress
- 1939 - New York World's Fair
- 1971 - Kimberly, South Africa
- 1986 - London
Only two women
have ever worn the Tiffany Diamond. The first was Mrs. Sheldon
Whitehouse, chairwoman of the Tiffany Ball in Newport, RI, wore
it in 1957, and Audrey Hepburn wore it in 1961 for publicity
photos for the film Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Tiffany & Co. - Charles Lewis Tiffany
Tiffany & Co. is a
silversmith and jewelry company which was founded in 1837 by
Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young in New York City.
In 1853, Charles Lewis Tiffany assumed total control of the
company and was given the nickname of "the King of Diamonds" by
New York City newspapers. In 1887, Tiffany bought the French
Crown Jewels. Its famous jewelry and designs have been worn by
the richest and most famous people in the world including the
Vanderbilts and the Astors, Movie stars and Royalty. The Tiffany
flagship store is located on New York's Fifth Avenue at 57th
Street. The New York Tiffany jewelry store is probably the most
famous in the World due to the publicity attracted from the 1961
movie Breakfast at Tiffany's, which starred Audrey Hepburn as
Holly Golightly, the naive, eccentric socialite. The jewelry
store continues to attract thousands of tourists who are able to
see the Yellow Tiffany Diamond which is on display.
How the Tiffany
Diamond was formed
The Kimberley mine in South Africa, where the Tiffany diamond was found, is situated
on an ancient volcanic pipe. Diamonds are formed
when extreme heat and extreme pressure cause carbon atoms to crystallize
forming diamonds approximately ninety miles under the earth's surface.
Diamonds reach the surface of the earth via volcanic pipes, or channels.
Yellow
Diamonds
Colored
diamonds contain impurities or structural defects that cause the
coloration. The most common impurity, nitrogen, causes a slight to intense
yellow coloration depending upon the type and concentration of nitrogen
present.
Natural yellow diamonds contain the element nitrogen (N).
The Tiffany Diamond
The above history details important historical events and dates.
Fascinating information about the history of the stone providing
comprehensive facts, information and about the history of the famous
gem.
Famous - Precious - History
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Stone - Guide - - Facts - Information -Info
History - Breakfast at Tiffany's - Audrey Hepburn - History - History
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