Industry unites to define ‘famous diamonds’

Attendees included Rio Tinto’s Tom Albanese; Cartier’s Arnaud Bamberger; Christies’ jewellery specialists David Warren and Raymond Sancroft-Baker; and senior figures from the Gemmological Institute of America and De Beers, among others.

Hosted by Robert Procop, the event marked his recent succession from Lord Balfour as editor-in-chief of Famous Diamonds, the guide to “the world’s most important diamonds and chronicle of the stories behind them.”

Robert Procop commented: “For the first time, we have a team of the world’s leading diamond experts – people who have mined, cut, classified, bought and sold these gemstones – joining me to embark on a quest to identify famous diamonds. I am delighted to say that we already have several exciting new additions, which will be published in the next edition in 2012.”

With over 100 diamonds in the world at 100 carats or more, he stressed that “the criteria for famous diamonds must extend beyond size to focus on the rare qualities and historical provenance of these extraordinary gemstones.”