Royal gift or ‘stolen’ gem? Calls for UK to return 500 carat Great Star of Africa diamond that was sold to a UK company
The star, called the “Great Star of Africa,” is the largest of its kind, weighing 5.69 carats (5.3kg) and measuring 1.36 inches (3.9cm) from one facet to the next
Jewelry company Sotheby’s said the diamond was stolen by a jewel thief and that it was not’stolen’ from a stone mine
British company De Beers sold it to the UK company, which sold it to Sotheby’s for $8.4 million in 2011
The diamond was a’relic of civilization,’ an official with the diamond and jewellery company De Beers said.
The company said the diamond was stolen by a jewel thief and that it did not belong to a mine.
De Beers said it has been in discussions with the British Embassy about returning the diamond, which it has valued at $8.4m (£5.4m).
Great Star of Africa diamond was stolen from a jewellery store by a jewel thief
The diamond, nicknamed the ‘Great Star of Africa’ after its location and size, was stolen from a jewellery store in Cape Town in 2006.
The thief, described as a’minor’ diamond thief, removed the diamond from a case and placed it in his pocket, De Beers said.
A diamond dealer in the same shop sold the diamond to the UK company, which sold it to Sotheby’s for $8.4 million in 2011.
It was a’relic of civilization,’ an official with the jewellery company De Beers said.
‘Stolen’ or’relic of civilization’?
The UK company that sold the diamond – De Beers – said the jewel thief was a’minor’ diamond thief
