. . . is this:

In truth, I have no special affinity for diamonds. They’re beautiful, but not really a necessity in my life.

But this diamond — well, that’s a whole different ball game. Found in Botswana — the world’s second-largest producer of natural diamonds (behind, of all places, Russia) — it is the largest one found in more than a century, and the second largest ever discovered in a mine.

As yet unnamed, it weighs in at about half a kilogram (a little over a pound), and is described as “fist-sized,” “exceptional,” “overwhelming,” and . . . by Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi . . . simply “Wow!” [Sello Motseta, Associated Press, August 22, 2024.]

It is, of course, too soon to place a value on the stone. I’m not a gemologist — not even an amateur — but I would guess that the value will depend on the usual “cut, clarity and color,” the absence or number of imperfections, as well as how it is to be divided into individual gemstones. To put it in perspective, a smaller diamond from the same mine was sold for a record $63 million in 2016. [Id.]

I do know that I would not want to be the lapidary chosen to make that first cut.

And if it were mine? Well, I don’t really enjoy a lifestyle that calls for the Crown jewels.

And I’m fairly small, so no Liz Taylor-size gems for me.

Nor do I crave jewel-encrusted costumes.

On second thought, maybe if I looked like that . . .

But more realistically, don’t you agree that it might make a nice:

Well, that can be decided later. For now, just add it to my Christmas wish list . . . somewhere between the new Jaguar XJ and that little estate in The Hamptons I saw listed on Zillow. And thanks in advance.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
8/25/24