While looking for a gift for my 16-year-old grand-daughter in a jewellery store, I saw a diamond that brought back memories.
In 2002 I had an office at the Spring Street end of Collins Street, Melbourne, where all the expensive and upmarket stores were situated. On my daily walks I would sometimes see a family who appeared to be of Arabian descent – husband walking out front, followed by his many wives and children, all carrying shopping bags.
I was to meet this man under very different circumstances.
My secretary rang to ask if I could see a man on short notice as he had to fly out to Dubai that day. I said “Yes, send him in”.
In swooshed an Arabian dressed gentleman who bowed and introduced himself as Prince Abdul El Bili*, seventh son of Sheik Hammud El Farah Bili* of Dubai. We shook hands, western style.
In his left-hand Prince Abdul held a small suitcase bound in crocodile skin and gold edging, about the size of a large cigar box. After polite conversation and enquiries about my health, I asked if I had seen him walking down Collins Street with his family. He smiled and said, “Having three wives who love to shop has its problems”. I said, “I have similar a problem, but I only have one wife”. We both laughed.
I politely asked how I could help him. He said he and his brothers were in Australia, interested in buying businesses. They had just returned from Western Australia.
“What type of industries are you interested in?”
Prince Abdul laid the beautiful box on the table and opened the combination locks.
To my total amazement, it was full of diamonds, Argyle Diamonds. There were large stones, many small stones, glittering purple as he poured them onto the table.
I reached for the phone and asked my wife, who was also my business partner, to join us. I wanted a witness to this astonishing event.
My wife walked in, her eyes widening as she saw what was on the table. After introducing her to the prince, my wife, in a very squeaky voice, asked me “Are we going to buy them?” I did not answer.
I asked the prince what he wanted to do with the gems. He said that they were for sale and that he had been told I might be interested.
I explained that I was not a diamond merchant but could give him phone numbers of people to call who may be able to help him.
I asked the prince what he thought the stones were valued at and what his asking price was. He said he thought around $7,000,000 – but that was just a rough guess, he was looking for someone to value them properly.
My wife picked up two of the largest stones and in a trembling voice asked me “Could we not have just two?”
The prince arose, packing the diamonds in their case. He thanked me for my time, saying that he would come to see me on his next trip, and he did.
I have seen the prince many times since. We became business partners and firm friends. We spent many happy hours with his family when they were in Australia.
Lou Sigmund
October 2023
*Not their real names
______________________________-
**Feeling nostalgic...? Finding it hard these days to stroll leisurely along Collins Street? Check out https://thecuriousreport.com/collins-street/
In 2002 I had an office at the Spring Street end of Collins Street, Melbourne, where all the expensive and upmarket stores were situated. On my daily walks I would sometimes see a family who appeared to be of Arabian descent – husband walking out front, followed by his many wives and children, all carrying shopping bags.
I was to meet this man under very different circumstances.
My secretary rang to ask if I could see a man on short notice as he had to fly out to Dubai that day. I said “Yes, send him in”.
In swooshed an Arabian dressed gentleman who bowed and introduced himself as Prince Abdul El Bili*, seventh son of Sheik Hammud El Farah Bili* of Dubai. We shook hands, western style.
In his left-hand Prince Abdul held a small suitcase bound in crocodile skin and gold edging, about the size of a large cigar box. After polite conversation and enquiries about my health, I asked if I had seen him walking down Collins Street with his family. He smiled and said, “Having three wives who love to shop has its problems”. I said, “I have similar a problem, but I only have one wife”. We both laughed.
I politely asked how I could help him. He said he and his brothers were in Australia, interested in buying businesses. They had just returned from Western Australia.
“What type of industries are you interested in?”
Prince Abdul laid the beautiful box on the table and opened the combination locks.
To my total amazement, it was full of diamonds, Argyle Diamonds. There were large stones, many small stones, glittering purple as he poured them onto the table.
I reached for the phone and asked my wife, who was also my business partner, to join us. I wanted a witness to this astonishing event.
My wife walked in, her eyes widening as she saw what was on the table. After introducing her to the prince, my wife, in a very squeaky voice, asked me “Are we going to buy them?” I did not answer.
I asked the prince what he wanted to do with the gems. He said that they were for sale and that he had been told I might be interested.
I explained that I was not a diamond merchant but could give him phone numbers of people to call who may be able to help him.
I asked the prince what he thought the stones were valued at and what his asking price was. He said he thought around $7,000,000 – but that was just a rough guess, he was looking for someone to value them properly.
My wife picked up two of the largest stones and in a trembling voice asked me “Could we not have just two?”
The prince arose, packing the diamonds in their case. He thanked me for my time, saying that he would come to see me on his next trip, and he did.
I have seen the prince many times since. We became business partners and firm friends. We spent many happy hours with his family when they were in Australia.
Lou Sigmund
October 2023
*Not their real names
______________________________-
**Feeling nostalgic...? Finding it hard these days to stroll leisurely along Collins Street? Check out https://thecuriousreport.com/collins-street/
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