Shepard Diamond

In the formation of most diamonds, a few atoms of nitrogen are substituted for carbon. These imperfections interact with light to tint the stones yellow or brown. Typically, the more yellow a stone is, the less it is worth, unless the color is intense enough for the stone to be graded a fancy color, such as this deep yellow. The Shepard Diamond pictured here was acquired in exchange for a small collection of diamonds that had been seized as smuggled goods by the United States Customs Service. The diamond is named for the Smithsonian employee who facilitated the exchange, Glen P. Shephard, former Purchasing Officer, in 1958.

Catalog Number: G3406
Weight: 18.29 carats
Exchange , 1958