Moussaieff Red Diamond
Encyclopedia
The Moussaieff Red Diamond (formerly known as the Red Shield Diamond) is a diamond
Diamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...

 measuring 5.11 carats (1.022 g) with a triangular brilliant cut
Brilliant (diamond cut)
A brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance. The shape resembles that of a cone and provides maximized light return through the top of the diamond....

 (sometimes called a trillion or a trilliant cut), rated in color
Diamond color
A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond is perfectly transparent with no hue, or color. However, in reality almost no gem-sized natural diamonds are absolutely perfect. The color of a diamond may be affected by chemical impurities and/or structural defects in the crystal lattice...

 as Fancy Red by 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...

. While this may seem relatively small when compared to other famous diamonds, the Moussaieff Red is, in fact, the largest Fancy Red the GIA reports having rated.

The Moussaieff Red is reported to have been found by a Brazilian farmer in the Abaetezinho river in 1990, in a region known as Alto Paranaiba which has a reputation as a source of large and fancy-coloured diamonds. In the rough, it is believed to have weighed 13.9 carats (2.78 g). The diamond was purchased and cut by the William Goldberg
William Goldberg (diamond dealer)
William Goldberg was an American diamond dealer and the founder of the William Goldberg Diamond Corporation.-Biography:Goldberg was born December 22, 1925 in Brooklyn, New York City. He started cutting diamonds in 1948, but found that his aptitude lay with buying and selling diamonds rather than...

 Diamond Corp., where it went by its original name the Red Shield. It is currently owned by Moussaieff Jewellers Ltd.

The Moussaieff Red was displayed as part of the Smithsonian's "The Splendor of Diamonds" exhibit, alongside The De Beers Millennium Star
Millennium Star
The Millennium Star is a famous diamond owned by De Beers. At 203.04 carats , the world's second largest known top-color , internally and externally flawless, pear-shaped diamond....

 and The Heart of Eternity
Heart of Eternity Diamond
The Heart of Eternity is a diamond measuring 27.64 carats , rated in color as "Fancy Vivid Blue" by the Gemological Institute of America. The Heart of Eternity was cut by the Steinmetz Group, who owned the diamond before selling it to the De Beers Group.The Heart of Eternity is a member of an...

.

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