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Diamonds are Forever
People immediately think of diamonds when they think of South
Africa. The Cullinan Mine, which lies 25 miles outside
Pretoria must be the most famous mine in the world.
It has produced three of the biggest diamonds ever found in
the world, the biggest of which was named after the mine -
the Cullinan or Star of Africa - which was presented
to King Edward VII of England. It is now part of the
Crown Jewels which are housed in the Tower of London.
You can take a guided tour of the Cullinan Mine from the
city, which costs about $10 US per person. It is still possible
to buy diamonds at certain mines, however, the quality of
cutting and stones has become so high that it is just as economical
to buy them in shops throughout the rest of the world.
Bag a Bargain
Illegal diamond buying (or 'IDB') is an aspect of life in
the diamond trade. It is illegal in South Africa to sell diamonds
to individuals or companies other that the De Beers Consolidated
Mines Company. It is also highly illegal to buy black
market diamonds and you may well get prosecuted for it due
to the number of undercover police clamping down on the trade.
Also you are likely to end up with what is called a slenter,
basically a fake. These are made from lead crystal and practically
impossible to detect. The safest bet is to buy from a regulated
De Beers Diamond Trader.
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