South Africa is recognised as the world’s leader in producing the highest gem quality natural white diamonds in the world.
Embodying the beauty of the country’s natural resources, The Star of South Africa, a 47.75 carat oval brilliant, cut from a crystal of 83.50 carats, is credited with being the diamond that turned the tides of fortune in South Africa. In 1869, a Griqua shepherd boy, on the Zandfontein Farm, near the Orange River picked it up. Schalk Van Niekerk, who two years earlier had had a stroke of luck with a “pebble” that proved to be a 21.25 carat diamond (the Eureka or O’Reilly), traded the young man for the stone, giving him five hundred sheep, ten oxen and a horse. It was practically all of Van Niekerk’s fortune, but a few days later in Hopetown, he sold the rough crystal for $56,000.
Later Louis Hond, a diamond cutter, who fashioned it to what has been described as an “oval, three-sided brilliant”, purchased the stone and it was sold to the Earl of Dudley for $125,000. The Countess Dudley wore it as a hair ornament, surrounded by ninety-five smaller diamonds. The present whereabouts of this historically important diamond is not known. It is alternately known as the Dudley Diamond.
Discover other iconic South African diamonds on our WALL OF FAME when visiting The Diamond Works Institute.