Kohinoor Diamond

The Kohinoor Diamond is one of the most famous diamonds in the world. The Kohinoor diamond was first mentioned in 1306 when it was taken from a Rajah of Malwa, whose family had held the diamond for centuries. It was described as weighing 186 carats and was an oval cut white diamond - the shape and size of a small hen's egg. The Kohinoor diamond belonged to various Indian and Persian rulers but it became part of the Crown Jewels of England at the time that Queen Victoria was proclaimed empress of India. The Kohinoor was re-cut at this time and now weighs 108.93 carats and is kept in the Tower of London.

Kimberley Diamond

The Kimberley Diamond, named after the Kimberley Mine in South Africa, is one of the most far-famed emerald-cut diamonds in the world.

Before the Kimberley Diamond was cut, it weighed about 490-carats and had the color of sparkling wine. In the year 1921, the rough diamond was cut to 70 carats and in 1958 the Kimberley Diamond was re- cut into the current emerald shape and measured about 55.09 carats. The yellow colored diamond with its beautiful shape has been exhibited in different places and finally an undisclosed collector from Texas bought it in 1971.

The Kimberley Diamond has become famous because of its emerald cut. This emerald cut was initially known as ‘step cut’ and was perfectly suited for emeralds, hence the name emerald cut. The emerald cut consists of 58 facets, 8 girdles, 25 crowns and 25 pavilions. The shapes can vary from squares to rectangles. Later this emerald cut was used while shaping hard stones and so it was also applied in case of the diamonds.

WORLDS LARGEST DIAMOND!

Firestone Diamonds says Botswana mine ahead of schedule

Firestone Diamonds said it reached earthmoving and production plant capacity targets ahead of schedule and recovered a high quality diamond at its BK11 mine in Botswana, raising its expectations for the average value of output at the mine.

It said early diamond recoveries included 13.74 carat stone, with value estimated at $5,000 per carat.

"This recovery is very significant and confirms our expectation that larger diamonds will be recovered at BK11," Chief Executive Philip Kenny said in a statement.

Firestone said it would "comfortably exceed" the target production of 1.5 million tonnes per annum at it BK11 production plant once the phase 2 commissioning was completed in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Firestone, which had agreed to buy rival Kopane Diamond Developments for $71 million to get its hands on Kopane's Liqhobong kimberlite project in July, said plans developed in relation to the mine were in advanced stage.

However, the company said a plant it was building for Debswana Diamond Co at a Botswana mine would be delayed to allow Debswana to focus on certain higher priority projects.

The construction of the modular tailings treatment plant at the Jwaneng mine had been expected to start in the first half of 2011 and reach full production in late 2012, said the diamond miner and explorer with operations in Botswana and South Africa.

Shares of Firestone were up 5.4 percent at 24.75 at 0748 GMT on the London Stock Exchange. They touched a high of 11.8 percent earlier in the session.