Here at Amidon, we like to daydream about beautiful gemstones. The bigger, brighter and rarer, the better. So on a crisp fall day, our thoughts turn to that great beauty, the Centenary diamond.         The Centenary originated from De Beers’ Premier Mine in South Africa. This is the same mine that had already brought the world the Cullinan, the Niarchos, the Taylor-Burton and the Premier Rose.   The perfectly colorless 599-carat diamond was found in 1986, but kept secret for two years. Then, on March 11, 1988, at De Beers’ diamond jubilee celebration, they announced this diamond and named it the Centenary to celebrate 100 years in business. But once such a diamond is discovered, the tension mounts. Cutting such a beauty is a high-pressure job. De Beers chose Gabi Tolkowsky, who comes from a renowned family of diamond cutters. In fact, his great-uncle Marcel wrote an early book on diamond design.     De Beers designed a special underground room at its research lab in Johannesburg, South Africa. All kinds of special tools were acquired and security measures taken to be sure the room would have a stable temperature and be absolutely free of any vibrations, which could spell disaster in the cutting process.       Tolkowski fixated on the Centenary for a whole year before cutting it. He examined every part of the diamond, which was shaped sort of like a matchbook with a horn sticking out of one corner. It would not be an easy stone to cut.   When the time came, Toklowski used old-fashioned hand methods rather than modern technology. He worried that heat or vibration could ruin the diamond. It took him 154 days to whittle away the parts he wouldn’t use in the final cut. The end product weighed 273.85 carats, was roughly heart-shaped and had a record setting 247 facets.     Sadly for the diamond-loving public, De Beers guards the identity of buyers. Rumor has it that the Centenary was sold, but we don’t know who has it. It should emerge someday.   But don’t feel too bad. You can get your own miniature Centenary at Amidon. We have tons of beautiful diamonds to tide you over until the real Centenary returns to the limelight.