Rough weighing over 10.80cts

[mysecretdiary]

Hi Fellow PSers,
Can anyone tell me why rough weighing over 10.80cts are called special?
I have googled a lot but couldnt find a proper answer.
Thanks in Advance.

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

The term 'Special' is a remainder of older supply-contracts, mostly between the USSR and De Beers'. Rough stones over 10.80 Cts were considered to be 'special' in the sense of a special asset for the producing country, and as such were not part of the supply-contract. These were sold separately, generally by Gokhran, the State Depository.

This practice set the stage for now +10.80 Ct still to be considered as 'special', and sold separately, even in the absence of such De Beers'-contract.

Live long,

 

[John P]

This post has a photo of a spectacular 17 carat special.

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...ehind-ideal-cut.121284/#post-2114456#p2114456

 

[Karl_K]

This post has a photo of a spectacular 17 carat special.

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...ehind-ideal-cut.121284/#post-2114456#p2114456

That is one of my all time favorite threads on PS ever.