By Joseph Pietrafesa
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February 12, 2025
In the sparkling world of diamonds, exceptional and large stones are often awarded distinguished pedigrees by gemologists. Notable examples include the Hope Diamond, Wittelsbach, Artemus, Apollo, and Venus, each renowned for their unique cut, clarity, color, size, and rarity.Provident Jewelry in Wellington possesses such an extraordinary gem—a 100.08-carat diamond that remains unnamed. This stone is believed to be one of the rarest of its kind in the world. Its rarity is so exceptional that, once sold, it will be given its own name and pedigree, as per Provident’s GIA adhered to standards. 49The custom setting for this diamond was meticulously designed and handcrafted by Provident’s skilled artisans. It features a double-ring structure to secure the large stone, complemented by intricate, diamond-accented filigree at its base.Geoff Fear, partner and owner of Provident Jewelry’s Wellington location, speaks passionately about this remarkable gem. “There is truly nothing like this stone,” he states. Diamonds consist of carbon atoms arranged in rigid tetrahedrons or triangular pyramids. Pure diamonds are transparent and colorless, qualities that make them exceptionally rare and valuable. This diamond is part of that exclusive category.The color in a diamond is formed when trace elements, such as nitrogen, sulfur, or boron, interact with carbon atoms during the diamond’s formation, resulting in hues of yellow, green, or blue. This 100+ carat stone features a precise alignment of these pyramidal structures which truly enhances the diamond’s inherent beauty. Despite the possibility of cutting or dividing such a large stone into smaller pieces, this 100.08-carat gem was preserved intact to maintain its magnificent form.Formed in a pillow cut, the diamond has already attracted sig-nificant interest from investors and collectors due to its immense value and rarity. Large diamonds are considered part of the tangible asset class. They are physical, valuable objects, they can be touched, seen, and measured. Diamonds, especially large and rare ones, can also be viewed as long-term investments due to their intrinsic value, scarcity, and market demand. Like other precious physical assets such as real estate or fine art, diamonds can appreciate over time and are often used as a store of value or collateral for financial transactions. This is why inquiries to purchase this stone have come from Asia and across much of the European Union, yet it remains exclusively on display in Wellington. Provident Jewelry began its journey as an estate jeweler, specializing in heirloom pieces across various categories. Drawing from this foundation, the founding family expanded their offerings to include prestigious brands like Chopard, Bulgari, Roberto Coin, and Buccellati. As the business grew and new generations took the helm, expansion continued strategically, ensuring each new location was chosen for its experienced and knowledgeable operators.Geoff Fear, a fixture at Sunday Polo in Wellington and a longtime independent seller of luxury watches and fine automo-biles, first joined Provident at their Jupiter store before becoming an owner and partner at the Wellington location. Describing the stores design and layout, Fear said, “We wanted to create something unique for the equestrian community,” referring to the shared passion many have for high-end cars, exquisite jewelry, and fine watches.“We saw this as an opportunity to provide a comfortable, ultra-stylish shopping experience,” says Fear. The Provident Wel-lington store boasts an elegant wine room or lounge adjacent to the main showroom, featuring warm wood tones, equestrian-style seating, decor, and sleek glass enclosures. The watch collection in-cludes rare and collector-quality timepieces from exclusive brands such as Parmigiani Fleurier, Armin Strom, Bucherer, MB&F, and Louis Moinet—brands that few have the chance to encounter—as well as strong partnerships with Breitling, Franck Muller, Bell & Ross, and Cartier. “It’s very common for us to have customers from around the world visit while they’re in town for a polo match or Grand Prix event,” says Fear. “They can enjoy a bottle of wine or champagne as they browse for the perfect piece of jewelry or an exceptional watch.” Provident takes pride in having on-site watchmakers and gemologists who not only provide exceptional service and repairs but also craft custom settings or a one-of-a-kind “Piece Unique” designed and tailored to each customer’s specifications.“When you shop with us in Wellington, you’ll immediately feel the difference,” says Fear. “And we do it all at prices much lower than those of national brands. It all circles back to our original purpose of selling estate pieces. Our customers are clients for life.”