The diamond was purchased at a flea market by Sydney DeYoung (1897–1986), a Boston jewelry seller. The diamond, which was mistaken for a garnet, was on a hatpin being sold as part of an estate jewelry collection. Upon later examining the stone, however, DeYoung noted that it was of unusually high quality for its age and did not have the appearance of a garnet. He had it tested at a gem-testing laboratory, and it was discovered that the stone was actually a red diamond.
