sums
of money, was named the " Excelsior." The finder was rewarded by a gift
of, some say £500, others £150, a horse, saddle and bridle, and the
diamond fields and the diamond dealers of the world boiled with
excitement. The color was reported to be fine, and the only difficulty
which confronted the owner was to get a purchaser who could find use
and pay for such a monster gem. Later developments obviated the
impediment of size considerably, for there were internal flaws so
placed that a material reduction must result from their elimination.
The shape" also made it impossible to cut a single brilliant from it
without unusual and wasteful loss of material. The crystal measured 3
inches in length by 1-1/2 inches thick, and its breadth varied from 1-1/2 to
2-1/2 inches. As no purchaser appeared, it was finally decided to cut
it. After much study, it was planned to cleave it into ten pieces, and
cut them into drop and marquise shape brilliants. The work was very
successfully done at Amsterdam in 1904.
According
to the United States Geological Survey report of 1904, the three
largest cleavages weighed, 158, 147, and 130 carats respectively, and
the cut gems produced were as follows:
