Star of the South

famous diamondsMany famous diamonds are part of state-owned crown jewels, while others belong to museums or are privately owned. The pale pink Darya-i-noor, whose name means "sea of light," is one of the crown jewels of Iran. The Koh-i-noor, whose name means "mountain of light," is the central stone in a crown worn by Queen Elizabeth, consort of George VI, king of the United Kingdom. The Jubilee diamond is privately owned.

Star of the South, unblemished 129-carat white diamond with a rosy glow, one of the largest ever found in Brazil; it weighed about 262 carats in rough form. It was discovered in 1853 in the Bagagem River (in Minas Gerais state) by a slave woman, who was given her freedom and pensioned as a reward. The Star of the South has been owned by the Société Cartier, a French luxury goods conglomerate, since 2002.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.
Citation Information
Article Title: Star of the South
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 10 May 2018
Access Date: February 22, 2025