Paragon (diamond)

In gemmology the term paragon refers to any flawless diamond with a mass of at least 100 carats.

Currently the largest flawless natural diamond (as opposed to synthetic diamond) in the world is known as The Paragon, a D-color gem weighing {{convert|137.82|carat|g|abbr=on}},{{citation |title=Graff Jewelry Company |date=21 June 2009 |url=http://www.luxemag.org/jewellery-watches/graff-jewelry-company.html |publisher=LUXemag}}. {{Archive url|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622194909/http://www.luxemag.org/jewellery-watches/graff-jewelry-company.html|date=2009-06-22}} and the tenth largest natural white diamond in the world.{{cn|date=June 2020}} The gem was mined in Brazil and attracted attention for being an exceptional white, flawless stone of great size.{{citation |title=Dictionary of Gems and Gemology |publisher=Springer |doi=10.1007/3-540-27269-0_16 |year=2005 |isbn=978-3-540-23970-3 |pages=558–619}} The Mayfair-based jeweller Graff Diamonds{{citation |title=In the cut |url=http://www.wmagazine.com/accessories/2008/03/graff_diamonds?currentPage=1 |journal=W |date=March 1, 2008 |author=Murphy, Robert |access-date=November 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229192145/http://www.wmagazine.com/accessories/2008/03/graff_diamonds?currentPage=1 |archive-date=February 29, 2012 |url-status=dead }} acquired the stone in Antwerp, cut it into an unusual seven-sided kite shield configuration, and set it in a necklace which separates to both necklace and bracelet lengths. Apart from the main stone, this necklace also contains rare pink, blue, and yellow diamonds, making a total mass of {{convert|190.27|carat|g|abbr=on}}.{{citation |url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/jewellery/news/090812-graff-paragon-diamond.aspx/Gallery,Necklaces/ |title=The Paragon |author=Julia Neel |date=12 August 2009 |journal=Vogue |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817123126/http://www.vogue.co.uk/jewellery/news/090812-graff-paragon-diamond.aspx/Gallery,Necklaces/ |archive-date=17 August 2009 |url-status=dead}} The necklace has associations with the end of the millennium and was worn by model Naomi Campbell at a diamond gala held by De Beers and Versace at Syon House in 1999.{{Cite news |last=Menkes |first=Suzy |date=1999-06-15 |title=Those Sparkling Celebrities |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/15/style/IHT-those-sparkling-celebrities.html |access-date=2024-07-01 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}