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Largest diamond loses sparkle

Johannesburg: A claim that the world’s largest diamond has been found in South Africa has yet to be followed by any evidence, but has produced plenty of speculation, accusations of fraud and even a blindfolded journey reminiscent of a bad spy novel.

Nearly six weeks after the announcement of the discovery of an 8,000-carat diamond — more than twice the size of the world’s largest — the South African diamond expert called in to verify the claim declared he would have nothing more to do with the affair. He says he never glimpsed the stone and one photo he did see looked like a lump of resin.

The British businessman who made the initial announcement says he has laid fraud and theft charges against his former associates.

“I wish I knew what was going on,” Ernie Blom, chairman of the South African Diamond Council and president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, said. “They created enormous excitement and expectation in the world and the whole thing has fizzled out. I am not sure what the truth is.”

It is not impossible that a big rock has been found in South Africa. The world’s largest diamond, the 3,000-carat centrepiece of the British crown jewels, was discovered near Pretoria in 1905. — AP

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