History of the
Kahn Canary Diamond
The Kahn Canary was
discovered in 1977 at the Crater of
Diamonds State Park which is located in South-West Arkansas near
Murfreesboro. The name of the man who discovered the diamond was George
Stepp who was a logger who lived in Carthage, Arkansas. The rough
diamond crystal weighed 4.25 carats and was colored a vivid yellow.
George Stepp sold the diamond to Stanley Kahn of Kahn's Jewelers in Pine
Bluff, Arkansas. In order to to preserve its flawless natural beauty the
decision was made not to cut the diamond. But it required a special
setting so that the Kahn Canary diamond could be worn as a piece of
jewelry. Stan Kahn contacted the talented designer Henry Dunay to
undertake this task. Henry Dunay was born on May 1 1935 in Jersey City,
New Jersey and served a seven year apprenticeship with a master
goldsmith and was vastly experienced in jewelry design. It was
imperative to preserve its natural, uncut form. The Kahn Canary diamond
was a perfect symbol to represent Arkansas which has the nickname of
“The Natural State.” The Arkansas inspired ring setting designed by
Henry Dunay reflected the natural type of contours found in Arkansas and
was mounted in an 18K gold and platinum ring
setting.
Hillary Clinton
and the Kahn Canary Diamond
The Kahn Canary diamond was a perfect, natural symbol of Arkansas. Her
husband, Bill Clinton, was Governor of Arkansas. In 1993 Stan Kahn
loaned the Arkansas-inspired ring to Hillary Clinton to wear at the
first Inauguration of President Clinton as the 42nd President of the
United States. Hillary Clinton wore the Kahn Canary again in 1997.
How the Kahn
Canary Diamond was formed
The land in Arkansas, where the vivid yellow Kahn Canary diamond was
discovered, is situated on the eroded surface of an ancient volcanic
pipe. Diamonds are formed when extreme heat and extreme pressure cause
carbon atoms to crystallize forming diamonds, approximately ninety miles
under the earth's surface. Diamonds reach the surface of the earth via
volcanic pipes, or channels. When a volcano finally erupts, as one did
in ancient Arkansas, diamonds are also deposited on the surface.