The Story of 'The Jonker Diamond'

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The Story of 'The Jonker Diamond' (1936)

Re-enactment of how the 726-carat Jonker diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1905 by the family of Jacobus Jonker, how it was sold to Harry Winston, and how it was cut by Lazare Kaplan... Read allRe-enactment of how the 726-carat Jonker diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1905 by the family of Jacobus Jonker, how it was sold to Harry Winston, and how it was cut by Lazare Kaplan.Re-enactment of how the 726-carat Jonker diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1905 by the family of Jacobus Jonker, how it was sold to Harry Winston, and how it was cut by Lazare Kaplan.

See production info at IMDbPro

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6.0/10

206

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4User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

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Trivia
The Jonker diamond was found in South Africa on 17 Jan 1934. At 726 carats, it was the 4th largest uncut diamond ever found at the time. There is speculation that it may be part of the Cullinan diamond discovered in 1905, the largest gem quality diamond ever found, at 3106.75 carats. The Jonker was cut into 13 diamonds, with the largest an Emerald cut diamond weighing 142.90 carats.

Goofs
The show states the diamond was cut into 20 smaller stones; the actual number was 13.

Quotes
Narrator: Stunned by the sudden, dramatic change of luck. Here was the fulfillment of a soul consuming desire. The realization of a mad dream.

Connections
Featured in MGM Parade: Episode #1.16 (1955)

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Featured review

Nice Short for the Legendary Director

Story of 'The Jonker Diamond', The (1936)

*** (out of 4)

Extremely interesting short has Pete Smith telling us about the title diamond, which at the time was the biggest stone ever found. After word of the large diamond got out, thousands of people went searching for it in Africa but one family finally found the thing after eighteen years of digging. Once the diamond was sold, a professional cutter had to decide the best way to get a profit out of the thing that was bought for one million dollars. I love coming across shorts like this that tell a very interesting story and that's the reason why I constantly record them because you never know when you'll get a real gem like this. I had never heard of this story so perhaps that's why I found it so interesting but I thought the first half of the film, dealing with the digging, was made very well but so was the second half when we learn what it takes to actually cut a diamond. Director Tourneur using this second half to create a great scene of tension when they go to make the first cut, which, if done wrong, could destroy the diamond. Fans of his will certainly like seeing this early example from the master but even those not familiar with his work should find plenty to enjoy here.