Esperanza Diamond on AGS Stores Tour

New York--The Esperanza diamond is on the move. 

The 4.62-carat stone, uncovered at Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park in June, is in the middle of a three-month tour across American Gem Society stores so members of the public can see it in person.

The Esperanza is thought to be the most valuable and one of the purest diamonds ever discovered in the United States, and is the fifth largest diamond ever found at the Crater of Diamonds park. In its rough form, the diamond weighed 8.52 carats, and was half the size of a quarter. 

Mike Botha of Embee Diamonds cut the stone in-store at Stanley Jewelers Gemologist in North Little Rock, Ark. It took him 130 hours to cut and polish the stone and he used an 800-pound cutting table.

The D color, internally flawless diamond features a unique 147-facet, teardrop-cut triolette shape that is the first of its kind, created by Botha and inspired by the natural icicle shape of the rough diamond. Jeweler Ian Douglas of Inspired Jewelry Group designed the pendant that holds the Esperanza, and it draws attention to the fact that one end of the diamond is wider than the other.

The stone was on display at Summa Jewelers in St. Louis in November, followed by Stanley Jewelers Gemologist in December.

It just finished its residency at Black, Starr & Frost’s Newport Beach, Calif. location and now will be at the company’s Phoenix salon until Jan. 24.

From there, the Esperanza will travel to Molina Fine Jewelers in Phoenix from Jan. 27 to 31, Whiteflash in Houston from Feb. 3 to 7, and then Jacksonville, Fla.’s Underwood’s Jewelers from Feb. 10 to 14.

With an estimated value of $1 million, the diamond is available for purchase through an open bidding process through Black, Starr & Frost until Feb. 15.

Interested parties can contact Adam Graham, vice president and managing director for the Newport Beach Black, Starr & Frost salon. He can be reached at adam@blackstarrfrost.com or at 949-673-1771.