Origin of name
The Rojtman diamond gets its name from the one time owner
of the diamond Marc B. Rojtman, who acquired the stone in the early 1960s.
Mr. and Mrs. Rojtman were collectors and connoisseurs of not only jewels, but
also old master paintings and other art works in general. They were devout
patrons of the arts and extended their patronage to the study and
development of the arts.
Characteristics of the
diamond
the Rojtman diamond is a 107.46-carat, cushion-shaped,
fancy yellow diamond of unknown clarity grade, but the clarity should be exceptional
going by the descriptions of the diamond.
In the list of famous yellow diamonds greater than 100
carats in weight the Rojtman diamond occupies the 24th position. See table
below.
List of yellow diamonds
greater than 100 carats in weight
|
S/N |
Name |
Carat Weight |
Shape/Cut |
Color |
|
1 |
Incomparable |
407.48 |
shield shaped |
fancy brownish yellow |
|
2 |
Oppenheimer-uncut |
253.70 |
natural octahedral |
yellow |
|
3 |
De Beers |
234.65 |
cushion |
light yellow |
|
4 |
Red Cross |
205.07 |
cushion |
canary yellow |
|
5 |
unnamed |
200.87 |
pear |
yellow |
|
6 |
Moon |
183.00 |
round |
pale yellow |
|
7 |
unnamed |
180.85 |
briolette |
yellow |
|
8 |
Star of Peace |
170.49 |
pear |
brownish yellow |
|
9 |
Hope of Africa |
151.91 |
cushion |
fancy yellow |
|
10 |
Unnamed |
150.00 |
emerald |
yellow |
|
11 |
Florentine |
137.27 |
double rose cut |
light yellow |
|
12 |
Algeiba Star |
135.03 |
square brilliant |
yellow |
|
13 |
Sarah |
132.43 |
cushion |
fancy vivid yellow |
|
14 |
Golden Hue |
132.42 |
cushion |
yellow |
|
15 |
Tiffany Yellow |
128.54 |
cushion |
canary yellow |
|
16 |
Stewart |
123.00 |
brilliant |
yellow |
|
17 |
Meister |
118.00 |
cushion |
yellow |
|
18 |
Vainer Briolette |
116.60 |
briolette |
fancy light yellow |
|
19 |
Unnamed |
114.64 |
briolette |
yellow |
|
20 |
Unnamed |
114.03 |
cushion |
yellow |
|
21 |
Mouna |
112.50 |
cushion |
fancy intense yellow |
|
22 |
African Yellow |
112.00 |
- |
yellow |
|
23 |
Anon |
108.04 |
emerald |
yellow |
|
24 |
Rojtman |
107.46 |
cushion |
yellow |
|
25 |
Golden Sun |
105.54 |
emerald |
yellow |
|
26 |
Golden Door |
104.95 |
pear |
yellow |
|
27 |
Alnatt |
101.29 |
cushion |
fancy vivid yellow |
|
28 |
Sunrise |
100.52 |
emerald |
yellow |
The diamond being a fancy yellow diamond, which is still
a medium yellow shade, is most probably a Type Ia diamond, and Sub-type IaAB.
The diamond is Type I because it contains detectable quantities of nitrogen
impurities. It is type Ia, because nitrogen atoms exist as aggregates of
2-atoms (A-aggregates), 4-atoms (B-aggregates), and 3-atoms (N3 centers). A
and B aggregates do not affect the color of diamonds, but N3 centers do,
imparting a pale to medium yellow color depending on the concentration of N3
centers. Normally all three aggregates occur together and the Sub-type is
known as IaAB. 98 % of all naturally occurring diamonds are Type Ia.
If the nitrogen atoms are scattered as single atoms in
the crystal structure, they impart an intense yellow color to the diamonds,
such as fancy intense and fancy vivid yellow colors. Such diamonds are known
as Type Ib, but their occurrence is only about 0.1 % of all naturally
occurring diamonds.
History
The early history of the diamond such as the country of
origin, mine of origin, date of discovery, original owners of the diamond,
the person or company involved in the cutting etc. are all unknown. But some
experts believe that the diamonds origin is from the alluvial deposits of
the South African diamond fields, in the early days of diamond mining in
South Africa. The 123-carat Stewart diamond also originated in a similar
manner.
The first time the diamond made its public appearance was
in 1957, when Harry Winston, the internationally famous jeweler and diamond
dealer, based in New York City, acquired the diamond, which was a yellow
cushion-cut weighing 107.60 carats. Harry Winston got the diamond re-cut
slightly to its present weight of 107.46 carats, and mounted it in an
elaborate clip- pendant combination.
In 1963 he sold the diamond to Marc B. Rojtman and his
wife Lilian of the United States, who were keen collectors of jewels. But,
they were more renowned as collectors and connoisseurs of Old Master
paintings and other art works. They extended their patronage to the study
and development of arts, and set up a family foundation that advances
education in the arts.
When the Rojtman diamond was in their possession, they
lent it for an exhibition at the De Beers Diamond Pavilion in Johannesburg
in 1966.
On April 25th 2006, the Rojtman diamond featured at a
Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels Auction, held at Manhattan, New York. The sale
of the 107.46-carat, elegant, cushion-shaped, fancy yellow color diamond,
was expected to be the highlight of the auction. The spectacular diamond had
an estimate of $ 1.5 - 2.0 million placed on it. The sale also featured
another historically important diamond the, 65.57-carat, fancy dark orange
brown, Golden Maharajah diamond with an estimated value of $ 400,000 to $
600,000. Other items in the auction included a spectacular array of
jewelry and colored gemstones by Cartier's, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Harry
Winston. Sotheby's also held a public viewing of the items to go on sale
from April 19 to 24, at York Avenue, in New York.
There was an enthusiastic response to the auction, from
buyers representing all regions of the world. The Rojtman diamond as
expected achieved a record price of $ 1.92 million. However, the greatest
surprise at the auction was the price achieved by the Golden Maharajah
diamond, which fetched a record price of nearly $ 1.4 million, far in excess
of the estimated value, after an intense bidding competition between eight
of the buyers. The Rojtman and the Golden Maharajah diamonds were both
acquired by Graff Diamonds Ltd. of London.
The Rojtman diamond is now the proud possession of
Laurence Graff, the King of Diamonds, who is said to have handled more
important gem-quality diamonds than any other living dealer. Graff has set
the Rojtman diamond in an exquisitely designed platinum ring, surrounded by
smaller pink diamonds.
