Librarian Files

Valuable Gem Show Purchase

 
In February of 1985, a Texas gem broker, Roy Whetstine bought a gem stone that was alleged to be a valuable stone.  Originally it was reported that Whestine bought a 1,905 carat sapphire worth $2.28 million for $10 at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.  Whetstine and the stone were featured in People magazine, the New York Times and the Joan Rivers Talk show.  But follow-up stories proved that the stone was not as valuable as originally reported.   It was eventually reported that the stone was probably only worth a few hundred dollars.
 
Sources:  
Arizona Daily Star. November 14, 1986. Page B12.
Snopes.com http://www.snopes.com/luck/discoveries/sapphire.asp
 

Article tagged with: Valuable Gem, Gem Show

Last Update: 12-4-2010 1:18pm

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