[3] In 1901 the diamond was found in the De Beers controlled Kimberley Mine at Griqualand West, Cape Colony (in modern South Africa).
[3] Prior to the 1918 auction the News-Democrat, an American newspaper, stated, "If it brings less than a million dollars, it will be a bargain, as diamonds go.
"[6] At the auction the diamond was purchased by the London firm S. J. Phillips for £10,000[4] and the proceeds went to fund the British Red Cross Society during World War I.
[7] The diamond was then auctioned by Christie's (Geneva) in November 1973 and it sold to an American businessman for 1.8 million Swiss francs.
[8] The consignor of the diamond stated that part of the proceeds from the auction would be donated to the International Red Cross Movement.