Historic Diamonds
William Goldberg is synonymous with the most renowned gemstones in history. Long known for its unparalleled standards of excellence, the firm’s master craftsmen have cut some of the world’s most breathtaking gems. Founder William Goldberg was fond of saying, “You shouldn’t cheat a diamond of its right to be beautiful.” These famous, remarkable diamonds are a beautiful testament to his vision.
Premier Rose
When Bill purchased a 353.9-carat rough from South Africa’s Premier Mine, all eyes were cast on the diamond dealer. What would he create? After many nail-biting months on the cutting wheel, he produced a historic stone for the record books: a 137.02-carat D-internally flawless diamond—the largest pear-shaped D-flawless ever graded by the GIA.
Blue Lili
A blue diamond is extraordinarily rare, but a 30.06-carat fancy intense blue diamond is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Starting with a rough of about 100 carats, Bill opted to sacrifice three-quarters of its weight to achieve the historic and utterly mesmerizing Blue Lili, named for his beloved wife.
Beluga
The rarest of the rare: Bill’s team spent months polishing this massive 265.82-carat rough whose frosty finish obscured unknown clarity within. Thousands of hours in the hands of a master cutter revealed its inner beauty: a magnificent 102.23-carat type IIa D-internally flawless diamond the size of an egg.
Guinea Star
Any other diamantaire would have cut this 255-carat rough—the largest ever discovered in the Republic of Guinea—into a classic shape, but Bill took a risk that yielded major rewards: an enormous 88.9-carat D-flawless shield cut.
The Pumpkin
Discovered in Central Africa, this diamond once again proved that magnificent beauty often lies within uncut stones. Under Bill’s direction, a large brown rough was transformed into a magnificent 5.54-carat fancy vivid orange diamond. On Halloween Eve 1997, Sotheby’s sold it to Harry Winston Inc. for $1.3 million.
Red Shield
Bill risked millions on this deep-pink rough, which was uncovered in Brazil. He believed he could create something never seen before—and he did. From the stone, he cleaved a 5.11-carat fancy red diamond in a shield shape. Today, it remains the largest-known deep-red diamond.
Briolette
What started as a huge 160.05-carat piece of rough was masterfully transformed into an extraordinary 75.51-carat type IIa diamond—the designation for the purest of pure diamonds. When it was sold in 2013 for $11.15 million, it was the highest price paid for a briolette diamond at auction.
Pink Muse
Bill never hesitated to sacrifice weight to create the most perfect diamond: The house’s master cutters transformed a 40-carat piece of rough into a magnificent 8.89-carat fancy vivid purplish-pink type IIa diamond, making it one of the largest brilliant oval-cut stones of its kind.