The heist happened in Lebec, California, in 2022 when a Brinks truck was transporting goods from one show in California to another.
A 187-Carat Canadian Diamond Goes to Washington
The Diavik Foxfire was mined in Canada and will be on display at the Smithsonian through February.

Washington, D.C.--The largest diamond ever found in North America is making its way to Washington, D.C.
The 187.7-carat Foxfire diamond, mined in Canada, will be on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History beginning Nov. 17 through Feb. 16, 2017.
The museum said it will put the rough stone on display in the Harry Winston Gallery alongside another well-known gemstone, the 45.52-carat deep blue Hope Diamond.
In a news release, Jeffrey Post, curator of the museum’s National Gem and Mineral Collection, called the Foxfire “one of the great treasures of the Earth,” and noted that its display will give visitors the chance to see the big diamond in its rough state.
Rio Tinto unearthed the Foxfire in August 2015 at its Diavik Diamond Mine, which is located about 130 miles from the Arctic Circle in Canada’s Northwest Territories. The stone took its name from the aboriginal description of the Northern Lights as resembling a “brush of undulating fox tails.”
This is not the diamond’s first trip into the United States. Back in May, Rio Tinto brought it across the border, holding a private viewing of the stone in New York City.
In June, Deepak Sheth of Amadena Investments/Excellent Facets Inc. placed the winning bid in an international auction for the stone. The purchase price for the Foxfire was not disclosed.
Amadena is a diamond trading, cutting and polishing firm based in New York that is also a Rio Tinto Select Diamantaire.
Sheth has opted to keep it in its rough state thus far.
He said, “Having North America’s largest known uncut, gem-quality diamond on display at the Smithsonian is a testament to the rarity of the Foxfire diamond.
It also represents another significant chapter in the diamond’s remarkable story.”
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., closing only on Dec. 25. Admission is free.
The Latest

The 10-carat fancy purple-pink diamond with potential links to Marie Antoinette headlined the white-glove jewelry auction this week.

The Starboard Cruises SVP discusses who is shopping for jewelry on ships, how much they’re spending, and why brands should get on board.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

The historic signet ring exceeded its estimate at Noonans Mayfair’s jewelry auction this week.


To mark the milestone, the brand is introducing new non-bridal fine jewelry designs for the first time in two decades.

Founder and longtime CEO Ben Smithee will stay with the agency, transitioning into the role of founding partner and strategic advisor.

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 of her favorite pieces from the jewelry collections that debuted at Couture.

If you want to attract good salespeople and generate a stream of “sleeping money” for your jewelry store, then you are going to have to pay.

The top lot was a colorless Graff diamond, followed by a Burmese ruby necklace by Marcus & Co.

Gizzi, who has been in the industry since 2001, is now Jewelers of America’s senior vice president of corporate affairs.

Luca de Meo, a 30-year veteran of the auto industry, will succeed longtime CEO François-Henri Pinault.

Following visits to Vegas and New York, Botswana’s minerals minister sat down with Michelle Graff to discuss the state of the diamond market.

The “Your Love Has the Perfect Ring” campaign showcases the strength of love and need for inclusivity and representation, the jeweler said.

The former De Beers executive is the jewelry house’s new director of high jewelry for the Americas.

The New York Liberty forward is the first athlete to represent the Brooklyn-based jewelry brand.

Take a bite out of the 14-karat yellow gold “Fruits of Love Pear” earrings featuring peridots, diamond stems, and tsavorite leaves.

The one-day virtual event will feature speakers from De Beers, GIA, and Gemworld International.

The California-based creative talks jewelry photography in the modern era and tackles FAQs about working with a pro for the first time.

Al Capone’s pocket watch also found a buyer, though it went for less than half of what it did at auction four years ago.

The foundation has also expanded its “Stronger Together” initiative with Jewelers for Children.

Assimon is the auction house’s new chief commercial officer.

The De Beers Group CEO discusses the company’s new “beacon” program, the likelihood diamonds will be exempt from tariffs, and “Origin.”

The Danish jewelry giant hosted its grand opening last weekend, complete with a Pandora pink roulette wheel.

Industry veteran Anoop Mehta is the new chairman and independent director of the IGI board.

The winners of the inaugural “Kering Generation Award x Jewelry” are student Lee Min Seo and China-based startup Ianyan.