Tiffany- a canary yellow diamond, is one of the largest yellow diamonds ever discovered. Its carat weight was originally 287.42 carats (57.484 g) in the rough when discovered in 1878 in the Kimberley mine in South Africa.
It was cut into a cushion shape of 128.54 carats (25.108 g) with 82 facets—24 more than a traditional round brilliant—to maximize its brilliance. The facet pattern features eight needle-like facets pointing outward from the culet (bottom) facet.
Jewelry and diamond historian Herbert Tillander refers to this as a “stellar brilliant cut”, and lists the gem in his book, Diamond Cuts in Historic Jewelry – 1381 to 1910 (1995), among other such diamonds: the Cullinan Diamond, the Koh-i-Noor, the Polar Star, the Wittelsbach, and others
The diamond is known to have been worn by only three women during its lifetime. It was worn by Mrs. E. Sheldon Whitehouse at the 1957 Tiffany Ball held in Newport, Rhode Island, and mounted for the occasion in a necklace of white diamonds.
It was subsequently worn by Audrey Hepburn in 1961 publicity photographs for Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In 2019, Lady Gaga wore the diamond at the 91st Academy Awards.
