Jersey Post issues diamond stamp for Queen's Jubilee

A "unique technique" has been used to attach the diamonds to the stamps

A real diamond has been incorporated into a limited edition Jersey stamp to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Each hand-cut 1.25mm diamond is fixed to a diamond diadem crown worn by the Queen on one of the two stamps in the souvenir sheet of limited edition stamps.

The other stamp features her late father, King George VI, and both are in a special box.

Jersey Post will issue 600 of the souvenir sheets on 6 February.

'Sobriety and elegance'

Head of the Jersey Philatelic Bureau Sally Ferbrache, who designed the issue, said: "We've always had a close relationship with Cartor Security Printing of France and the managing director Ian Brigham had shared with me early in 2011 that they had developed a unique technique of being able to affix a real diamond to a stamp.

"Of course, given the Diamond Jubilee, it was an opportunity we could not miss.

"And to be the first British postal administration to do so was the icing on the cake."

Mr Brigham said: "Our role is to make the technique enhance the subject, and on this occasion we brought to the project our expertise in terms of embossing and the application of unusual materials to stamps.

"Without doubt, the diamond enhances the sobriety and elegance of this exceptional Jersey Post souvenir miniature sheet."

The stamps cost £125 a sheet.