F
genuine, the Braganza is by far the largest diamond, not only now in
existence, but of which there is any record. But its very size,
weighing no less than 1,680 carats in the rough, has caused it to be
suspected, and no opportunity has hitherto been afforded of examining
it with sufficient care to warrant anything like a conclusive judgment
as to its true character. It is also to be noticed that even were it
ascertained to be a diamond, it might have to be greatly reduced in
size, if not cleaved into two or more stones, in the cutter's hands. As
a rule the larger the stone the more it proportionately loses in size
in the process necessary for the full development of its beauty. The
loss is usually reckoned at about one half for moderately large gems.
But for one of such large dimensions as the Braganza it could not
safely be estimated at perhaps less than two-thirds. This would reduce
the finished jewel to about
