What is a "diamond jubilee" and does it have anything to do with a "jubilee cut" for a diamond?

To answer the first part of your question, a diamond jubilee actually marks either a person's 60th anniversary celebration or alternatively an event's 75th anniversary. The first could be either a couple's wedding 60th anniversary or a King's or a Queen's reign in thrown 60th anniversary. A jubilee cut, on the other hand, is a type of a brilliant diamond cut which resembles a cushion shape. The properties of a jubilee cut are actually quite similar to a to a brilliant cut round diamond shape and the two resemble in facet distribution. These two terms indeed have a correlation, and it's through Queen Victoria of England, oddly enough. In 1897 Queen Victoria made history when was the first monarch of England to ever reach her diamond jubilee (even till this date). Two years prior to that, a magnificent 650 carat diamond was excavated from the Jagersfontein Mine and was sent to Amsterdam for polishing in 1896. Upon cutting, it became evident that this diamond was of exceptional purity and superb size and it was thus decided that this diamond was fit for a Queen. They planned to present the diamond as a gift for Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee celebrations and thus it was named the Jubilee Diamond. This event also marked the introduction of the ground breaking jubilee cut in the diamond industry. However, the jubilee cut turned out to be extremely short lived and is very rarely used in today's diamond cutting industry. In addition, the 245.35 carat Jubilee Diamond was so admired by its owner that he decided to maintain ownership of the diamond he never gave it to Queen Victoria as a gift, like he originally planned.

• 3
• 6