Golden Eye Diamond
Encyclopedia
The Golden Eye Diamond is a flawless 43.5 carats (8.7 g) Canary Yellow diamond, claimed to be the world's largest of its cut and color. It is listed at number four of the top ten notable diamonds. It is believed to come from the Kimberley
area of South Africa
. Tom Moses, a senior vice president with the Gemological Institute of America
, agrees that it came from South Africa, however the current owner, the U.S. Marshals Service, has not been able to determine the mine of origin.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
seized the diamond following an undercover investigation of Monea and Miller that resulted in his conviction for money laundering
and the diamond's forfeiture to the U.S. government in 2007. Amid Monea and Millers prosecution, no less than 17 claimants came forward in the case to claim ownership, or an ownership interest, in the Golden Eye Diamond (Akron Federal Court Case No. 5:07CR0030). The Court ruled that three claimants had colorable ownership claims and would be allowed to proceed to civil trial: Charity Fellowship Church, Jerry DeLeo of Corona Clay Corp., and The Monea Family Trust. The court found that the Church and Jerry DeLeo had spent nearly $1,000,000 to cut and develop the 124.5 carat gem. Monea and his trust were never able to establish ownership or purchase of the rough stone, although extensive evidence was presented of the diamond's origins with newspaper articles and researched records. The uncontested evidence showed that the Golden Eye Diamond had been obtained from the VanWyke family of Kimberly South Africa most recently, and that the stone had been held by the family for some 150-years. The original Mr. VanWyke was neighbor to Mr. DeBeers, and discovered the 124.5 carat Paragon on his property in the DuToit's Pan Mine, in Kimberly South Africa, in 1871. This evidence has never been disproven, and for over 150-years no other diamond on earth was thought to be the original DuToitII Diamond (the first African Diamond found over 100-carats).
The diamond was ultimately approved to be auctioned by a federal judge. The court also found that, although people had ownership claim, Monea's conspiracy to sell the diamond existed - somehow - before Monea even owned the diamond. Its sale was planned tentatively in January 2011, but after a delay it was announced it will be sold via online auction in September 2011, with a minimum bid of $900,000. The Diamond is currently owned by Jerre Hentosh after he won it via online auction with a winning bid of $2.84 million.
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
area of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Tom Moses, a senior vice president with the Gemological Institute of America
Gemological Institute of America
The Gemological Institute of America, or GIA, is a nonprofit institute dedicated to research and education in the field of gemology and the jewelry arts. Founded in 1931, GIA's mission is to protect all buyers and sellers of gemstones by setting and maintaining the standards used to evaluate...
, agrees that it came from South Africa, however the current owner, the U.S. Marshals Service, has not been able to determine the mine of origin.
Ownership and History
Upon the arrest of Ohio businessmen Paul Monea and Mickey Miller, its actual ownership was unclear.The Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
seized the diamond following an undercover investigation of Monea and Miller that resulted in his conviction for money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
and the diamond's forfeiture to the U.S. government in 2007. Amid Monea and Millers prosecution, no less than 17 claimants came forward in the case to claim ownership, or an ownership interest, in the Golden Eye Diamond (Akron Federal Court Case No. 5:07CR0030). The Court ruled that three claimants had colorable ownership claims and would be allowed to proceed to civil trial: Charity Fellowship Church, Jerry DeLeo of Corona Clay Corp., and The Monea Family Trust. The court found that the Church and Jerry DeLeo had spent nearly $1,000,000 to cut and develop the 124.5 carat gem. Monea and his trust were never able to establish ownership or purchase of the rough stone, although extensive evidence was presented of the diamond's origins with newspaper articles and researched records. The uncontested evidence showed that the Golden Eye Diamond had been obtained from the VanWyke family of Kimberly South Africa most recently, and that the stone had been held by the family for some 150-years. The original Mr. VanWyke was neighbor to Mr. DeBeers, and discovered the 124.5 carat Paragon on his property in the DuToit's Pan Mine, in Kimberly South Africa, in 1871. This evidence has never been disproven, and for over 150-years no other diamond on earth was thought to be the original DuToitII Diamond (the first African Diamond found over 100-carats).
The diamond was ultimately approved to be auctioned by a federal judge. The court also found that, although people had ownership claim, Monea's conspiracy to sell the diamond existed - somehow - before Monea even owned the diamond. Its sale was planned tentatively in January 2011, but after a delay it was announced it will be sold via online auction in September 2011, with a minimum bid of $900,000. The Diamond is currently owned by Jerre Hentosh after he won it via online auction with a winning bid of $2.84 million.