Description of the Uncle Sam Diamond The Uncle Sam is one of the most famous diamonds in the world. It is the nickname for the largest diamond discovered in the United States to date. The Uncle Sam weighed 40.23 carats as a rough diamond crystal and is colored white. It has been cut twice and the cuts have culminated into a 12.42-carat emerald-cut diamond. The Uncle Sam diamond is currently owned by Peiken of Fifth Avenue, New York. Origin of the name of the Uncle Sam Diamond The Uncle Sam was found in the Crater of Diamonds State Park which is located in South-West Arkansas near Murfreesboro. This famous gem was given the nickname of 'The Uncle Sam Diamond'. The origin of the name is obscure, some have simply attributed the name as being the nickname of the man who found the diamond, W. O. Bassum, however, his has never been substantiated. As the diamond was the biggest ever found in the United States it seem only right that it was given a special name. The original Uncle Sam was the cartoon embodiment of the government of the United States of America. The most famous image of Uncle Sam is from a WWI recruiting poster by James Montgomery Flagg. The cartoon character was dressed in the patriotic colors of red, white and blue. 'Uncle Sam' has since become synonymous as a patriotic image of the US - and Uncle Sam shares the same initials as the United States. This would seem to be the most likely origin of the diamond's nickname. History of the Uncle Sam Diamond The Uncle Sam was discovered in 1924 on the site of the Crater of Diamonds state park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. The name of the man who found the diamond was W. O. Bassum who was a worker at the Arkansas Diamond Corporation. The stone weighed 40.23 carats as a rough diamond crystal, was colored white and was the biggest diamond ever found in the US. The Uncle Sam diamond has been cut twice and the cuts have resulted in a 12.42-carat emerald-cut diamond. discovered this white diamond. Diamonds are Forever... |