Paragon (diamond) facts for kids
A paragon is a very special and rare type of diamond. In the world of gemstones, a diamond is called a paragon if it is absolutely perfect, meaning it has no flaws, and weighs at least 100 carats. A carat is a unit used to measure the weight of gemstones.
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The most famous flawless natural diamond in the world is known as The Paragon. This amazing gem is a D-color diamond, which means it is completely colorless and very valuable. It weighs about 137.82 carats (27.564 g) (which is about 27.56 grams). This makes it one of the largest natural white diamonds ever found!
Contents
What Makes a Diamond a Paragon?
A diamond earns the title "paragon" by being truly exceptional. It must be completely flawless, meaning it has no internal marks or external blemishes. This is true even when viewed under magnification. Also, it needs to be very large, weighing at least 100 carats. These two qualities together make a paragon diamond incredibly rare and valuable.
The Discovery of The Paragon Diamond
The Paragon diamond was found in Brazil, a country known for its rich natural resources. When it was first discovered, people were amazed by its size and its perfect, pure white color. It stood out as an extraordinary natural treasure. This discovery added another incredible gem to the world's collection of famous diamonds.
Crafting a Masterpiece
After its discovery, The Paragon diamond was acquired by Graff Diamonds, a famous jeweler based in Mayfair, London. They bought the stone in Antwerp, a city in Belgium known for its diamond trade.
The jewelers carefully studied the rough diamond. They decided to cut it into a unique seven-sided shape. This shape looks a bit like a kite shield. This special cut helped to show off the diamond's incredible brilliance and flawless beauty.
Once cut, The Paragon was set into a magnificent necklace. This necklace was designed to be very versatile. It could be worn as a long necklace or separated into a shorter necklace and a matching bracelet.
A Dazzling Display
The necklace holding The Paragon diamond is truly spectacular. Besides the main Paragon stone, it also features other rare and beautiful diamonds. These include sparkling pink, blue, and yellow diamonds. Together, all the diamonds in the necklace weigh a total of about 190.27 carats (38.054 g) (about 38.05 grams).
This stunning piece of jewelry became famous around the end of the 1990s. It was worn by the well-known model Naomi Campbell at a special diamond event. This event was organized by De Beers and Versace at Syon House in 1999. It was a memorable moment for such a magnificent diamond.
See also
- List of diamonds
