CollectionsApr 30, 2024
12 Otherworldly Pieces From Tiffany & Co.’s 2024 Blue BookThe “Tiffany Céleste” collection reimagines designer Jean Schlumberger’s interpretations of the universe.
IndependentsFeb 29, 2016
Ark. jeweler, Embee to cut 8-carat Crater diamond
Stanley Jewelers Gemologist and Embee Diamonds are collaborating on an in-store event, inviting customers to see an 8-carat stone found at a nearby state park get cut before it’s set and sold.
The 8.52-carat “Esperanza” diamond recently found at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas will be cut by Mike Botha of Embee Diamonds during an event at local retailer Stanley Jewelers.
North Little Rock, Ark.--When a large, high-quality rough diamond was unearthed recently at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, one local jeweler didn’t want to let the opportunity to hold an event involving the stone get away.
In late June, Bobbie Oskarson found an 8.52-carat diamond when she was visiting the park with her boyfriend. Dubbed the “Esperanza,” the rough diamond is among the largest uncovered there.
Now, Stanley Jewelers Gemologists in North Little Rock is partnering with Canada’s Embee Diamonds for an in-store cutting event featuring the Esperanza.
Interest in the state park led to the store taking a group of customers to visit it since it’s only two hours away. Embee’s Mike Botha, master diamond cutter, and his son Evert also were along for the trip.
Though no one in the group found any stones of significant size, Laura Stanley said they still had a great time.
Botha also did a diamond cutting demonstration in the store for an event that proved to be really popular. “People loved it. It was a wonderful event,” Stanley told National Jeweler.
That was almost exactly a year before Oskarson found the 8-carat stone. Stanley said that once the news of the big find came out, she got a call from Evert Botha, who really wanted to do something with the diamond and began trying to track down Oskarson.
When it turned out she was looking for guidance on what to do with her found diamond, the three began working together.
This started with a pre-evaluation of the rough at the AGS Laboratories. What they’ve found so far, according to Stanley, is that it’s Type IIa and that “it appears to be colorless and appears to have a very high clarity.” And while it’s hard to tell exactly how big the final stone will be at this time, they’re hoping it will end up yielding around 6 carats.
“This is the fifth-largest diamond from that park,” Stanley said. “If it maintains the 6 carats we’re hoping for, that would make it the fourth-largest cut diamond from Crater.”
Mike Botha will cut the stone at in-store event at Stanley Jewelers scheduled to take place next month. “He really wants to do this,” Stanley said. “He’s even going to ship his whole bench down there just for the event.”
After the stone is cut, likely into a fancy briolette,
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
and sent to AGS Laboratories for final grading, plans right now call for American designer and AGS member Erica Courtney to create a setting for the stone. Stanley Jewelers then will help Oskarson look for a buyer or arrange to have it sold at auction on her behalf.
Being involved in this find has Stanley thinking about a client she worked with who found the “Illusion,” an 8.66-carat diamond, at the park in 2011. She said although the stone wasn’t as high quality as the Esperanza, there still could be some opportunity. “This has sparked me thinking, maybe we should go back to him and see what can be done after all. You never know.”
It also has the jeweler thinking about the possibility of opportunities from the park in the future, but Stanley said that would really depend on the quality of the diamonds that are unearthed.
It doesn’t seem entirely out of the realm of possibility, however, as a fair number of good-sized diamonds have been unearthed at the park, which is a rarity in itself.
RELATED CONTENT: Why there are diamonds in Arkansas
Rather than being a kimberlite deposit, which is where many of the large, profitable diamond mines are found, Crater of Diamonds State Park is a lamproite deposit.
According to Bram Janse, a diamond exploration geologist and also an adjunct senior research fellow at the Centre for Exploration Targeting at the University of Western Australia in Perth, lamproites are formed from a large group of rocks rich in alkaline-potassic minerals including leucite, phlogopite and clinopyroxene, among others.
He added that one variety, olivine lamproite, resembles kimberlites in that it shows olivine crystals but is comprised of different minerals.
There are only four known olivine lamproite diamond mines in the world, Janse said. In addition to the Crater state park in Arkansas, there is the Argyle mine in Western Australia; Ellendale, also in Western Australia but which shuttered operations in early July; and the small Majhgawan mine near Panna in India.
More on Independents
The Latest
MajorsApr 30, 2024
Zales Celebrates 100 Years With New CampaignThe brand also created a 100-carat lab-grown diamond necklace in honor of its centennial.
MajorsApr 30, 2024
Platinum Guild International Appoints New CEOTim Schlick has been promoted from his previous position as COO.
Brought to you by
Rio’s Reimagined Podcast: For the Love of JewelersMeet Ben Claus—grand prize winner of For the Love of Jewelers 2023 Fall Design Challenge.
Events & AwardsApr 30, 2024
Canadian Jewellers Association Brings Back the Summit It’s the second year for the event, slated to take place in October in Toronto.
Weekly QuizApr 26, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these seven questions.
Recorded WebinarsApr 29, 2024
Watch: Diamond Identification and Evaluation - How to Protect your BusinessSupplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA
SourcingApr 29, 2024
De Beers to Move Auction HQ from Singapore to BotswanaSales will be paused while the relocation takes place over the next few months.
Brought to you by
The Blueprint for Success in Scalable, Personalized Jewelry RetailWith Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
CollectionsApr 29, 2024
Simone I. Smith Mixes Denim and Diamonds in New Collection“SIS x MISA Denim and Diamonds” is a collaboration between the designer and celebrity stylist Misa Hylton.
SurveysApr 29, 2024
Mother’s Day Jewelry Spending to Reach $7B, Says NRFGifts that are unique and thoughtful are top of mind this year, according to the annual survey.
CollectionsApr 26, 2024
Piece of the Week: Jacquie Aiche’s Starry Galaxy NecklaceThe necklace is featured in the brand’s “Rebel Heart” campaign starring Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo.
Events & AwardsApr 26, 2024
AGS Conclave and GIA Symposium Are ConvergingThe two organizations will host a joint event, “Converge,” in September 2025.
SourcingApr 26, 2024
Anglo American Reportedly Shopping De Beers as BHP Eyes Anglo Big changes appear to be on the horizon for the diamond miner and its parent company, Anglo American.
Events & AwardsApr 25, 2024
Alexis Padis Takes Over as AGS Board President Padis succeeds Lisa Bridge, marking the first time the organization has had two women board presidents in a row.
EditorsApr 25, 2024
5 Tips for Creating Fans from the Top (Savannah) Banana Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment, shared the “five Es” of building a fan base during his AGS Conclave keynote.
WatchesApr 25, 2024
Audemars Piguet and John Mayer Partner on Limited Edition WatchThe Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "John Mayer" was celebrated at a star-studded party in LA last week.
SourcingApr 25, 2024
De Beers Lowers Production Guidance for 2024The announcement came as the company reported a 23 percent drop in production in Q1.
MajorsApr 25, 2024
Detroit Lions’ QB Jared Goff Keeps Going to JaredThe three-time Pro Bowler continues to partner with the retailer, donating to a Detroit nonprofit and giving watches to fans.
CrimeApr 24, 2024
Jewelry Crime Declines Significantly, But Dollar Losses Remain High A double-digit drop in the number of in-store crimes was offset by a jump in off-premises attacks, JSA’s 2023 crime report shows.
CollectionsApr 24, 2024
Pippa Small Announces ‘Venus’ CollectionInspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
FinancialsApr 24, 2024
Kering’s Jewelry Brands a Bright Spot in Tough Q1The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
Events & AwardsApr 24, 2024
JCK Industry Fund Announces 2024 Grant RecipientsThe selected nine organizations have outlined their plans for the funds.
SourcingApr 24, 2024
Rio Tinto’s Q1 Production Drops Amid Pause to Honor Lost Colleagues The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.
WatchesApr 24, 2024
These Are Rolex’s New Watches for 2024 The crown introduced a dozen timepieces in Geneva, including a heavy metal version of its deep-sea divers’ watch.
ColumnistsApr 23, 2024
The Smart Lab: Advanced Email Marketing Strategies for Mother’s DayEmmanuel Raheb recommends digging into demographic data, customizing your store’s communications, and retargeting ahead of May 12.
SourcingApr 23, 2024
Lucapa Sells 3 Diamonds for $10.5M in First Lulo Tender of 2024A 203-carat diamond from the alluvial mine in Angola achieved the highest price.
GradingApr 23, 2024
GIA Has a New Book About William RuserRuser was known for his figural jewelry with freshwater pearls and for his celebrity clientele.
