RIAA Diamond award for the Rolling Stones Hot Rocks album presented to the Rolling Stones Bill Wyman. This album was released in December 15, 1971 and was quickly certified Gold by the RIAA on January 20, 1972. By 2002 it had surpassed the milestone of 10 million units sold in the U.S. by reaching 12 million, earning it a prestigious RIAA Diamond sales award.

This is the rare chance to own an actual RIAA Diamond award -- the rarest of all RIAA awards -- personally owned by a member of the Rolling Stones. This was acquired in a sale that Wyman himself organized that included a large amount of his personal Stones memorabilia. See image of catalog page for this item from the sale.

Regrading the album itself, it contained all manner of Stones classics from "Time Is On My Side" to "Jumpin' Jack Flash" to "Wild Horses" and all the hits in between, the album went to #4 on the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart. Incredibly, at this writing as of November 2020, the album has also spent a staggering 347 weeks on the chart. The album has become the best selling of the Stones' career.

RIAA Diamond awards have a unique construction. Produced only since 1999, the design is a creation of renowned crystal designer Peter Wayne Yenawine, who was a master designer at Steuben Glass and who has been commissioned by the last five U.S. Presidents to create gifts. The award is topped with a diamond-shaped 728 ct. crystal placed in a faceted sterling silver setting. The award is 12" high and the crystal spire and diamond-shaped crystal top sit inside a black tapered 3-1/2" high base with is engraved with the recipient's name, the name of the album and the date.

Item Highlights:

• RIAA Diamond award made from glass, with diamond-shaped crystal top and gold metal info plate
• Crystal spire and top are in Excellent condition, base is in VG to Excellent with a minor mar or two
• First presentation award made in 2002
• Presented to and personally owned by Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones
• RIAA Diamond awards have been made since 1999 and are awarded to releases attaining over 10 million in U.S. sales, making them the rarest RIAA awards
  
• Crystal award measures approx. 12" high, base is 3.5" high
  
• 300 page (approx.) color hardbound Bill Wyman Rolling Stones Archive sale catalog in which item appeared included with purchase (see partial image of page featuring this item)
• Beautiful and very rare collector's item for any Rolling Stones fan

Detailed Item Description: This RIAA Diamond award would have been made in 2002 making it 18 years old. Besides the rarity of Diamond awards themselves, the award's most spectacular feature is undoubtedly that it is presented to and was personally owned by Stones bassist Bill Wyman.

The crystal award spire and diamond-shaped top, and presentation plate on the base are all in Excellent condition. The black base itself has a couple of very minor marks and a small area of tape residue on the back along with a hand written number. Wyman is known as a detail-oriented collector and archivist of his lifetime of Stones memorabilia so it is likely a catalog/archive number.

Notes on the condition of all vintage RIAA awards like this one: Please do not buy this item if you want a brand new piece of memorabilia. These are historical artifacts from the year they were produced. As a result they may show signs of wear. Frankly, if you see a 50-year-old award purported to be in 100% perfect condition, it might be too good to be true. After all, an antique should have "good' wear. If not, you might want to question the piece.

As to where they came from, they could have been displayed in record label offices, recording studios, artist manager's offices, radio stations, private collector's homes and yes, of course, possibly the artist's or songwriter's home. Typically, we don't know all the places they may have been over the years other than what we've stated in the description.