In which South African mine was the Tiffany Yellow Diamond discovered in 1877?

The Tiffany Yellow Diamond was discovered in South Africa’s Kimberley Mine.

The rough diamond was found in the Kimberley diamond fields in the late nineteenth century. Sources commonly date its discovery to 1877 or around 1878, but the mine identification is consistent: it came from the Kimberley Mine, not the Cullinan, Premier, or Jagersfontein mines listed as alternatives.

In its rough form, the stone weighed about 287.42 carats. Tiffany & Co. acquired it, and George Frederick Kunz supervised its study and cutting in Paris. The process reduced the stone to its present 128.54-carat cushion-shaped brilliant, designed to emphasize its deep yellow color.

The mine’s name connects the gem to one of the most important diamond regions in history. Kimberley became famous during South Africa’s nineteenth-century diamond rush and later gave its name to the Kimberley Process, an international system intended to prevent trade in conflict diamonds. The Tiffany stone itself was never sold and became part of Tiffany’s corporate identity.