Eureka Diamond
Encyclopedia
The Eureka Diamond was the first diamond
discovered in South Africa
. It weighed 21.25 carats (4.3 g), and was found near Hopetown on the Orange River
in 1867. The diamond, cut to a 10.73 carats (2.1 g) cushion-shaped brilliant
, is currently on display at the Mine Museum in Kimberley
.
Van Niekerk entrusted the stone to John O'Reilly, who took it to Colesberg
to inquire as to its nature and value. The stone came under the view of the acting Civil Commissioner Lourenzo Boyes, who on seeing that the stone cut glass declared: "I believe it to be a diamond." The stone was then sent by mail in an ordinary paper envelope to Dr. William Guybon Atherstone
, the colony's foremost mineralogist, in Grahamstown
. Atherstone confirmed that it was a 21.25 carat (4.25 g) diamond (although some sources put the weight at 24 carats (4.8 g)).
, although some sources claim that this was a glass replica, and that the real diamond was sent on to Windsor
for inspection by Queen Victoria. On its return to South Africa, the Eureka was bought for £500 by the Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir Philip Wodehouse. Sir Philip took it with him to the United Kingdom, where it remained for 100 years, during which time it was cut. On 16 April 1946, the Eureka was sold in London
at a Christie's
public auction as part of a bangle, for £5,700. In 1967, 100 years after the diamond's discovery, De Beers
purchased the diamond and donated it to the South African people. The diamond was placed in the Kimberley Mine Museum, where it is currently on display.
Diamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
discovered in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It weighed 21.25 carats (4.3 g), and was found near Hopetown on the Orange River
Orange River
The Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean...
in 1867. The diamond, cut to a 10.73 carats (2.1 g) cushion-shaped brilliant
Brilliant (diamond cut)
A brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance. The shape resembles that of a cone and provides maximized light return through the top of the diamond....
, is currently on display at the Mine Museum in Kimberley
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
.
Discovery
The diamond was discovered by Erasmus Jacobs, the 15 year old son of Daniel Jacobs, who owned a farm on the river. Erasmus used the stone as a toy, although his mother noticed its shine and mentioned it to a neighbour, Schalk van Niekerk. Intrigued by the stone, Van Niekerk offered to buy it from Mrs. Jacobs, who instead gave it to him saying, "You can keep the stone, if you want it".Van Niekerk entrusted the stone to John O'Reilly, who took it to Colesberg
Colesberg
Colesberg is a town with 17,354 inhabitants in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, located on the main road from Cape Town to Johannesburg....
to inquire as to its nature and value. The stone came under the view of the acting Civil Commissioner Lourenzo Boyes, who on seeing that the stone cut glass declared: "I believe it to be a diamond." The stone was then sent by mail in an ordinary paper envelope to Dr. William Guybon Atherstone
William Guybon Atherstone
William Guybon Atherstone medical practitioner, naturalist and geologist, one of the pioneers of South African geology and a member of the Cape Parliament....
, the colony's foremost mineralogist, in Grahamstown
Grahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...
. Atherstone confirmed that it was a 21.25 carat (4.25 g) diamond (although some sources put the weight at 24 carats (4.8 g)).
First purchase to current time
The Eureka was put on display at the 1867 Paris ExhibitionExposition Universelle (1867)
The Exposition Universelle of 1867 was a World Exposition held in Paris, France, in 1867.-Conception:In 1864, Emperor Napoleon III decreed that an international exposition should be held in Paris in 1867. A commission was appointed with Prince Jerome Napoleon as president, under whose direction...
, although some sources claim that this was a glass replica, and that the real diamond was sent on to Windsor
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
for inspection by Queen Victoria. On its return to South Africa, the Eureka was bought for £500 by the Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir Philip Wodehouse. Sir Philip took it with him to the United Kingdom, where it remained for 100 years, during which time it was cut. On 16 April 1946, the Eureka was sold in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at a Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
public auction as part of a bangle, for £5,700. In 1967, 100 years after the diamond's discovery, De Beers
De Beers
De Beers is a family of companies that dominate the diamond, diamond mining, diamond trading and industrial diamond manufacturing sectors. De Beers is active in every category of industrial diamond mining: open-pit, underground, large-scale alluvial, coastal and deep sea...
purchased the diamond and donated it to the South African people. The diamond was placed in the Kimberley Mine Museum, where it is currently on display.