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.