By Khang Nguyen

Local diamond cutters to put Sask. angle on one-of-a-kind diamond

Aug 30, 2015 | 8:21 AM

Embee Diamonds’ Mike Botha and his son Evert will travel to Little Rock, Arkansas in less than a week to work on what has been called a one-of-a-kind diamond.

The Esperenza is an 8.52-carat diamond, the fourth largest diamond to come out of Arkansas and the first diamond of its size to be cut and polished in the state.

The Bothas, from Prince Albert, were asked to work on the diamond after the owner of the diamond took it to the American Gem Society which Mike and Evert are members of.

The diamond was found by Coloradan Bobbie Oskarson in late June during a visit to Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park.

According to Evert, Oskarson had no idea what she stumbled upon.

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“She thought it was quartz and she was going to discard it,” Evert said as he recalled his conversation with Oskarson.

“To her utter disbelief, the gemologist on duty that day confirmed that it was a diamond.”

Once it became public, Evert said Oskarson had several offers for the diamond, but she smartly waited to get it professionally appraised. In the end, the deal she received doubled what she was originally offered, said Evert.

A special in-store event has been planned by Stanley Jewelers Gemologist in Little Rock for when Mike and Evert arrive. They will be working on the Esperanza from Sept 9-12 and the public is welcome to observe.

The cut of the diamond has been designed already and it includes a little bit of a Saskatchewan feel to it, said Evert.

“Saskatchewan is the only trapezoid province or state in the world, and due to the nature of the diamond design … when you look at (the diamond) close up you may see the shape of Saskatchewan on some facets,” Evert said.

The duo estimate they will finish up to 90 per cent of the diamond in Arkansas. They have plans to bring the gem back to Prince Albert to complete the rest. During that time, Evert is hoping to do a ‘mini reveal’ locally before shipping it off again.

Final plans for the diamond are still being discussed.

With files from Jill Sperling and Sarah Wallace

knguyen@jpbg.ca

Follow on Twitter: @khangvnguyen