Before Pope Leo XIV was elected, a centuries-old procedure regarding the late pontiff’s ring was followed.
Esperanza Diamond on AGS Stores Tour
The 4.62-carat stone, found at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, is in the middle of a three-month tour of American Gem Society-member stores.

New York--The Esperanza diamond is on the move.
The 4.62-carat stone, uncovered at Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park in June, is in the middle of a three-month tour across American Gem Society stores so members of the public can see it in person.
The Esperanza is thought to be the most valuable and one of the purest diamonds ever discovered in the United States, and is the fifth largest diamond ever found at the Crater of Diamonds park. In its rough form, the diamond weighed 8.52 carats, and was half the size of a quarter.
Mike Botha of Embee Diamonds cut the stone in-store at Stanley Jewelers Gemologist in North Little Rock, Ark. It took him 130 hours to cut and polish the stone and he used an 800-pound cutting table.
The D color, internally flawless diamond features a unique 147-facet, teardrop-cut triolette shape that is the first of its kind, created by Botha and inspired by the natural icicle shape of the rough diamond. Jeweler Ian Douglas of Inspired Jewelry Group designed the pendant that holds the Esperanza, and it draws attention to the fact that one end of the diamond is wider than the other.
The stone was on display at Summa Jewelers in St. Louis in November, followed by Stanley Jewelers Gemologist in December.
It just finished its residency at Black, Starr & Frost’s Newport Beach, Calif. location and now will be at the company’s Phoenix salon until Jan. 24.
From there, the Esperanza will travel to Molina Fine Jewelers in Phoenix from Jan. 27 to 31, Whiteflash in Houston from Feb. 3 to 7, and then Jacksonville, Fla.’s Underwood’s Jewelers from Feb. 10 to 14.
With an estimated value of $1 million, the diamond is available for purchase through an open bidding process through Black, Starr & Frost until Feb. 15.
Interested parties can contact Adam Graham, vice president and managing director for the Newport Beach Black, Starr & Frost salon. He can be reached at adam@blackstarrfrost.com or at 949-673-1771.
The Latest

The one-of-a-kind platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was estimated to fetch up to $1.7 million.

While the product has entrenched itself in the market, retailers and consultants are assessing the next phase of the category’s development.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

The police are trying to identify the man suspected of robbing two Tiffany & Co. locations in the area.


The well-known Maine jeweler takes over for Brian Fleming and will serve a one-year term.

The donation was the result of the brand’s annual Earth Day Ingot event.

Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA

The nonprofit has made updates to the content in its beginner and advanced jewelry sales courses.

BIJC President Malyia McNaughton will shift roles to lead the new foundation, and Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez will succeed her as president.

As a nod to the theme of JCK Las Vegas 2025, “Decades,” National Jeweler took a look back at the top 10 jewelry trends of the past 10 years.

The company plans to halt all consumer-facing activity this summer, while Lightbox factory operations will cease by the end of the year.

Following weekend negotiations, the tax on Chinese goods imported into the United States will drop by 115 percent for the next 90 days.

“Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop, the Diane Venet Collection” is on view at the Norton Museum of Art through October.

The deadline to submit is June 16.

Lichtenberg partnered with luxury platform Mytheresa on two designs honoring the connection between mothers and daughters.

The miner announced plans to recommence open-pit mining at Kagem.

Michel Desalles allegedly murdered Omid Gholian inside World of Gold N Diamond using zip ties and then fled the country.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore shares her favorite looks from a night of style inspired by Black dandyism.

Sponsored by Instappraise

CEO Beth Gerstein discussed the company’s bridal bestsellers, the potential impact of tariffs, and the rising price of gold.

The brand’s first independent location outside of Australia has opened in Beverly Hills, California.

Cathy Marsh will lead the jewelry company’s efforts in the upper Midwest and western United States.

The company has multiple strategies for dealing with tariffs, though its CEO said moving manufacturing to the U.S. is not one of them.

Connecting with your customers throughout the year is key to a successful holiday marketing push.

Its commercial-quality emerald sale held last month totaled more than $16 million, up from about $11 million in September 2024.

National Jeweler Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff joined Michael Burpoe to talk tariffs, consumer confidence, and the sky-high price of gold.