The giant jade diamond that has made world headlines has "disappeared", and the two key players in the saga say it was a hoax.
Both Brett Jolly, the man with shares in the stone, and Ernst Blom, the man who was meant to verify it, are fed up and believe the "diamond" is nothing more than a "lump of resin".
Last week Jolly told of a bizarre cloak-and-dagger run around Potchefstroom in a bid to see the diamond, which culminated in his being shown a paste replica.
Blom, president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, has withdrawn from the verification process after a photo of a replica, alleged to be the 7 000 carat diamond, was presented to him.
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"I have had enough," Blom said.
Despite numerous meetings with Jolly, who claims he has a 10 percent share in the diamond, Blom had yet to see the actual stone.
Blom said he withdrew from the process and dissociated himself from any further statements made by anyone but himself. Blom was appointed as the official spokesperson for the diamond by the owner, a Theuns Botha, despite not having met the man.
Jolly now believes news of the diamond's discovery was used to push up property prices in the North West Province where it was allegedly found.
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This article was originally published on page 1 of Cape Argus on October 07, 2007
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