Stress killed diamond 'Prince,' wife says

Tag : diamond

Mr. von Anhalt created Lydia Diamond in 1994 with his former wife,Emilia, who also used the title Princess (Mr. von Anhalt claimslineage to the royal house of the former German principality ofSaxony). They named the business after their daughter, Lydia, andset out to find gold around Wolf Lake, Ont. When Emilia allegedlyfound a nine-carat gemstone on the site, they switched their focusto diamonds. At one point the couple used a psychic who searchedfor gems with dowsing rods.
Last year, an Ontario judge convicted both of selling $1.8-millionworth of Lydia Diamond shares to hundreds of investors incontravention of Ontario securities laws. Investors claimed thecouple misled them about Lydia Diamond's operations.
By the time of their convictions, the von Anhalts had divorced andleft Canada. Emilia is believed to be in Europe with theirdaughter. Mr. von Anhalt headed to Florida to resume his "jet art"career, which involves dumping paint into a jet engine and sprayingit on a canvas . He married Tarinan three years ago and they movedto Palm Springs.
Yesterday, Tarinan said she is planning big memorial services inPalm Springs and St. Tropez, France. His death "is a great loss tothe art world," she said. "He wasn't just an artist. He created anart form very much like the Impressionists."
She added that many people were "calling him the next Andy Warhol."
Asked if a memorial will be held in Canada, Tarinan said: "Thatwill happen in its own time when many truths are revealed."
David Milosevic, a Toronto lawyer who represented Mr. von Anhalt,said his client had been appealing the conviction. He noted thatLydia Diamond is still mired in lawsuits and Mr. von Anhalt's deathhas complicated matters. "There are many ramifications to Jurgen'spassing," he said yesterday. At the time of his death, Mr. vonAnhalt was selling his 24 million Lydia Diamond shares, about 40per cent of the company, to two offshore entities for $1.4-million.That deal required court approval, which came in a ruling madepublic yesterday.
Tarinan said Mr. von Anhalt had been under tremendous stressbecause of his legal problems and the acrimonious divorce withEmilia. She said Emilia had cut her ex-husband's contact with hisdaughter and Mr. von Anhalt could only send the occasional e-mailto Lydia.
As for whether there are diamonds at Wolf Lake, Tarinan, who is aLydia Diamond shareholder, was unequivocal: "Absolutely."