European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 17, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                $20 million glitter Bojoh Barbour associated press it came from Iho Earth int unknown hands perhaps five to 10years ago. Crusted dirty with no hint a the untrained Eye of the Golden Tihart made ii War Likely bom in the Depths of Alica no no knows Sheri. Of demoniacal Ptah Islona fire ant pressure now it has been denuded of inc  Coaling and Imperley Lions that Toi Ivert its Beauly and on ocl 10. At Christie s in new York the highest bidder will own a Lawless Golden Diamond of 407.48 carats the largest  Diamond in Iho world the second largest Diamond in human hands Wilh whirl Cor d will bring probably Moie Lam 120 million. Ii r.  history is a mystery someone in Ghana or South Alica or some Ahr arc Lound in. A fought it Oul and sold it to someone else ii passed irom knowing hand to knowing hand ii was mined by someone someone vrho Lound i lie piece of Rock Only one person says Francois Cuneo. The Dapper 39-year-old Frenchman who Heads Christie s jewelry Dep Arlmon in Sci Vork then it went out of South Alica. I Lucr by a private route or through do Bors. The huge Diamond Trust or through another person. There must have been an intermediary Cuneo says the present owners will not even toll Christie s How they got it or How much they paid. Cuneo will nol say How much in is insured for. Why $20 million1?" Curiel says i Don l know. The most expensive Diamond Ever Mold was Aboul 110 million. Hut it was an 85 Caral Slone. This is nol a while  which the previous record Huldur Wao. So you can l really compare it the world s largest Diamond the 530 20 Carat Cullman i. The Groat Star of South Alica is Sel in Britain s Imperial Scop the. Pail of the Crown jewels and therefore Oul of circulation on display at the Tower of London we Don l believe the Cullinan is flawless Curiel says. H was Cut in 1911, and inc held of homology was More Art than science now things Are More precise. Me scientific. Nobody knows who Lucr it is Lawless or  Christie s counts on inc fingers of both hands Iho number of potential buyers those wish inc Money and the reason to Spurl such a Slonic. Erma Bombeck Franco a Curiel displays the 407.4b Carat Diamond the second largest Diamond in the world which will be auctioned on oct. Is. Ii will be Curiel says someone who wants lha prestige of buying the largest Lawless Stone in the woild.,. Either for a corporate Seal or a scepter or for a Tiara. I do not believe it will be purchased by someone who will give it to his  ii Wilt be a Symbol of status. Chrislie s has taken the Diamond on the Road to show prospective buyers Hong Kong. Tokyo los Angeles London. I Don l travel with  curio says. I would be an obvious  so this Queen of gems travels with a personal Carrier sometimes in armoured service or in the company of three or Lour armed guards. It depends where it is going every country poses a dil Lerent problem curio says. Not so in the secure Hearl of Christie s. Curiel who is also an executive vice president and Dii Ector of the firm casually into Ruple a  and Calls out. Diane the Diamond  it arrive in Diane s hand in a Small Black to that does t 111 together properly. Inside it is nos led in a piece of Ohen used tissue paper. It look three years beginning in 1985. To Cul Iho Diamond irom the 890 Caral Lono in which in was mined. Diamond Cullers do nol work by Tho hour but by the Carat. An Atli san. Jacques Swaab. Began the Job. To worked for six months determining the most economical shape a shield or Trio lotto a complicated asymmetrical triangular design More than 2 inches Long about one and one third inches wide and a fraction Over an Inch deep. Curio who will conduct the auction Points to a one Quarter Inch face and says ii probably look n month to Moke that one  Tho culling was finished this year by Anol Hor Artisan by a coslor. And the Diamond Drew crowds on exhibit at the smithsonian Insl Lulion in Washington. The Linal product fits easily in Tho Palm of one s hand and weighs about As much As a cigarette lighter. The current owners. New York jewelry dealers Marvin Samuels and Louis Click in partnership with the. Zalc corp a retail Chain headquartered in Dallas Don t explain their reluctance to reveal inc Diamond s origins. April of this year was a big month for diamonds. On april 19, rotheby s auctioned Oil an 85.91-Carat while Damond Lor $9,310.000. A Day later Christie s sold a 52.59-Carat Slone to $7,480.000, or a record per Caral Price of $142,000 Lor a White Diamond. Al that Price per Caral the new Diamond would run Over $57 million. But. As Curie says they can l be compared in april 19b7. He sold a rare red Diamond weighing less than a Caral Lor $880.000, an All time per Carat record. Some 300 people will witness the auction but the principal bidders will probably be absent relying on agents or phoned bids. Understandable. They Don t like thai kind of celebrity people following them around trying to sell them something else. But in ail likelihood the buyer s name will be made Public Curiel says. There s always a Chance that the buyer s name will become eternally linked to the Gem in s an Opportunity Lor  you re in a fancy restaurant and the waiter has Jusi Lakin your order for Coffee. Then you hear in. In s a Saint squeak at first nol unlike Tho sound of a Dirge in the distance accompanying a body to its final resting place it moves slowly and inches in and around the room until it conies to a Hall by your table you Clon i want to look but your eyes Are magnetically drawn to it breathing becomes Laboured As you inhale the Aroma of the dreaded dessert cart the intonation of Rosh raspberries lories shaved chocolate dans and cremes is begun of the waiter. You took around feverishly for a Way to escape but you cannot move. Finally you throw yourself on the bananas flambe Lika a human Sac Silice. Admit in How Many limes this week have you done that Dos pile the 1act nol a Day goes by thai we Don l head Tho evil of All thai sugar and at. Tho Lood Industry continues to Send out two con Licking messages. One. Stop doing thai two a Little sinning never Hud  there in t a woman s Magazine being published that does not Hawk the two Universal Staples on its cover the new revolutionary Diel of the month and a recipe for the Yum Miest Ever chocolate cake it s no wonder lha less than 5 percent of the population who Are 20 pounds or More overweight Are Able to lose Iho weigh and keep it Oil for a year. For every diet Book promising you longer Lile 11 you Eal sensibly there Are three cookbooks Wilh enough sugar Laden desserts to Pul you in a coma until you Aie 97 i read an article the other Day mat said. The More you Diel. The More you invite  Tell me Aboul it. 111 had any More wrinkles. I d have to have a Label on my neck giving instructions Lor pressing this double edged sword theory has produced a strange animal in this country tha Diel pig. A Diel pig orders Coconut Cream pie and digs a Smalt saccharin Tablet out of the lining of her purse for her Black Coulee. She drags celery through a 3.000-calorie dip. She orders a sundae but discreetly puts the Cherry aside in a Saucer to save on calories. She puts Gravy Over Low sodium bread and melted Buller Over the weight watchers fish entree. I have a Friend whose idea of dieting is to Eal a Candy bar and let the dog lick her lingers. T Don l blame the dieters. They re trying. But there Are Loo Many evil actions at work out there another Friend of mine purchased a pair of Queen size pantyhose recently. Inside there was a 25-cent Coupon Lor a cheesecake. They Aren t even Subtle anymore cd 9&b Ema Dot Wick Page 16 the stars and stripes monday. October 17,1988