Jeweler does not want green diamond

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- A bankruptcy trustee in Pennsylvania wants a famous New York jeweler to take back a rare green diamond.

Van Cleef & Arpels wants to keep the money, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.

Gregory Podlucky, former chief executive officer of LeNatures Inc., a bottling company, is under investigation for allegedly using company money to buy jewelry and toy trains. The diamond was found at the company's Latrobe, Pa., plant.

Trustee R. Todd Neilson said the purchase price of the diamond should be used to repay LeNatures creditors.

Investigators found an estimated $20 million in gems, jewelry and watches in safes at the plant, most of it purchased from high-end jewelers. But the green diamond, which might be worth as much as $3 million, appears to be the prize of the collection.

"Very few come on the market each year," said John King of the Gemology Institute. "Because of such rarity, those with noticeable color can command very high prices. At times, diamonds this rare are offered at auction houses such as Sotheby's or Christie's."