Famous Engagement Rings and Diamonds - The De Beers Millennium Star

Famous Engagement Rings and Diamonds - The De Beers Millennium Star

The Millenium Star is the world's second largest known diamond with a D grade Diamond Colour. The diamond weighs in at 203.04 carats and is owned by De Beers. This is an extraordinary diamond which is internally and externally flawless and is a pear shaped diamond. I can't say I can think of any Engagement Rings out there that could hold such a diamond!

The Millennium Star diamond was discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1990. The original rough diamond was 777 carats in weight! De Beers bought the rough diamond in the civil war in the mid-nineties and had the diamond laser cut which took 3 years of hard work to get the beautifully brilliant pear shape. This famous diamond has an estimated value of £200,000,000 !!!

Famous Engagement Rings and Diamonds - De Beers Millennium Star - The Millennium Dome Raid

On 7th November 2000 there was an attempt by a criminal gang to steal the De Beers Millennium Star while it was on display at the Millennium Dome in London. The police had the gang under surveillance for months, and had to catch them in the act. So under cover police were positioned around the dome, dressed as dome workers, tourists, etc. The criminal gang burst through the walls of the dome in a stolen JCB! Police were even positioned along the Thames River as this was the crooks' planned escape route. Sure enough all of the criminals were arrested and the Millennium Star diamond was not stolen and is still safe in the hands of De Beers, along with all their diamond engagement rings, famous diamonds, diamond earrings, diamond necklaces and probably some more diamond Engagement Rings.