damaged. As already explained in this thread, fluorescents and other types of lighting can fade colors. We have seen plenty of examples over the years. Combine that with a display like this:

and you will get chips that are exposed to the light in part and not exposed in part and the difference is a straight line. It explains why the drill hole is tan all of the way down, since the whole hole would be exposed to the light.

As far as I have seen, there were no two tone chips of the type being discussed made at the time the Diamond Jim chips were made. You might want to contact David Spragg and ask him if there were. The faded red on the inlay, which is the first color to fade, confirms this light damaged theory, as far as I can see. Your explanation of a coincidental color error is convenient, but not compelling.

By the way, the drill hole simply means it's been canceled. It may or may not have been a sample. That is speculation one way or the other.

You may believe you have a one of a kind chip, but I am not convinced. It looks like a severely light damaged chip. I see nothing to convince me otherwise. Unless I hear from an expert who supports your theory, I won't believe it.

Michael Siskin