American Museum of Natural History Unveils Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond,10/28

The American Museum of Natural History will unveil the Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond for public view on Thursday, October 28, in the Museum's Harry Frank Guggenheim Hall of Minerals. The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond is an extraordinary 31.06-carat natural fancy deep blue diamond that will be on display at the Museum through January 2011, courtesy of Laurence Graff.

Originally found in India, this stunning gem has had a long history of royal owners, including the Infanta Margarita Téresa of Spain in the 17th century and Bavaria's ruling House of Wittlesbach in the 18th century. In 2008, the diamond was purchased at auction by Laurence Graff.

For decades, experts have wondered if this diamond was cut from the same stone as the 45.52-carat Hope Diamond-another famous blue diamond from India. But a recent comparison shows that is not the case. Type IIb blue diamonds such as the Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond and the Hope Diamond are believed to make up less than half of one percent of all diamonds found in nature.

The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond exhibit is curated by George Harlow, curator in the Museum's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.

Admission is free with museum admission and the Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond can be found in the Harry Frank Guggenheim Hall of Minerals at The American Museum of Natural History. More information can be found at http://www.amnh.org/.