For you, what is the biggest diamond in the world? Most people agree that the Cullinan Diamondis the largest diamond ever found. The rough diamond was found in South Africa in 1905. It weighed an amazing 3,106.75 carats, which is about 1.37 pounds or 621 grams.
When such a big diamond was found, it made headlines all over the world and got everyone in the diamond businessvery excited. The mine's owner, Sir Thomas Cullinan, gave the diamond its name. Since then, it has become one of the most famous and valuable diamondsin history.
Now, we'll elaborate on this topic of the biggest diamond ever found in the history of mining.
Discovery Of The Cullinan Diamond
Thomas Evan Powell, a worker at the Premier No.2 mine in Cullinan, South Africa, found the Cullinan Diamond on January 26, 1905. At the time, Sir Thomas Cullinan owned the mine. He had just bought the land so he could look for diamonds there.
The diamond was found in a layer of blue clay close to the mine's surface. It was sent right away to the mine's surface manager, Frederick Wells, who knew right away how valuable it was.
When Sir Thomas Cullinan got the diamond, he sent it to the government of the Transvaal Colony in Pretoria to be evaluated. He then sent it to London to be looked at by the top diamond experts, who confirmed that it was of exceptional quality and size.
The Transvaal Colony government then bought the diamond and gave it to King Edward VII of England as a gift.
The discovery of the Cullinan Diamond was a big deal in the history of diamond mining, and it had a big effect on the diamond industry as a whole. The diamond was a very rare find, and no other diamond had ever been found that was as big or as good.
Size And Weight Of The Cullinan Diamond
The Cullinan Diamond | Priceless Pieces
The Cullinan Diamond was an amazing find. No other diamond had ever been found that was as big or as heavy as it was. As already mentioned, the rough diamond was about the size of a man's fist and weighed a huge 3,106.75 carats, which is about 1.37 pounds or 621 grams.
Because it was so big, people at first thought it was a piece of industrial-grade diamond. It wasn't until experts looked at it that its true value became clear. Even though the diamond was a strange shape and had a lot of flaws, its size and high-quality white color made it very valuable, despite these flaws.
The diamond is a type IIa diamond, which is the purest type of diamond. It was found to be of exceptional quality, with a very high level of transparency and a nearly perfect crystal structure.
The Cullinan Diamond was an important find for the diamond business because of its size and quality. It is still one of the largest and most valuable diamonds in the world.
Cutting And Shaping Of The Cullinan Diamond
According to HK Jewellery, a stone that isn't cut well won't shine and shine as brightly as one that is cut well, so it's important to find a good cutter.
Because the Cullinan Diamond was so big and valuable, it took a lot of skill and care to cut and shape it into smaller, easier-to-handle pieces. Joseph Asscher, a very skilled diamond cutter from Amsterdam, was given the job. He looked at the diamond for a few months before beginning to cut it.
The cutting process was tricky and took a long time. Asscher and his team worked on it for several months. They used a special machine to cut the diamond into several big pieces, and then they used traditional ways to cut diamonds to shape and polish the pieces.
The Cullinan Diamond was cut into nine main stones. The two biggest stones weighed 530.20 carats and 317.40 carats, respectively. The "Great Star of Africa" and the "Lesser Star of Africa" are the names of these two stones. The sizes of the other seven stones ranged from 22.5 to 94 carats.
Cutting and shaping the Cullinan Diamond was a big deal in the diamond business, and it is still remembered as an important event in the history of diamond cutting.
Some of the most expensive and well-known diamonds in the world are cut from this diamond. Later, they were used to make jewelryand other things, like the royal scepter of Britain, which is on display at the Tower of London.
Current Whereabouts Of The Great Star Of Africa
The Great Star of Africa, also called the Cullinan I, is currently set in the British royal scepter, which is on display at the Tower of London. The scepter is one of the Crown Jewels of the UK. It is kept in the Tower of London's Jewel House.
The British monarch uses the scepter on special occasions, and it is also shown to the public at certain times of the year.
The Great Star of Africa, which weighs 530.20 carats, is the biggest of the nine stones that were cut from the Cullinan Diamond. It is set at the top of the scepter and looks like a pear.
It is said to be one of the most valuable diamonds in the world because it has no color and is very clear. It's part of the Crown Jewels and is used in Royal ceremonies and put on display at certain times of the year.
The Cullinan II also called the "Lesser Star Of Africa", is also part of the Crown jewels and is set in the crown of the British royal family. The other seven stones cut from the Cullinan Diamond are also part of the Crown jewels and are set in different pieces of jewelry and other things.
People Also Ask
How Much Is The Cullinan Diamond Worth?
The Cullinan Diamond was once a 3,106.75-carat stone. It was also called the "Star of Africa." The price of the Cullinan diamond is thought to be more than $2 billion.
Is The Cullinan Diamond The Most Expensive?
This rough diamond was used to make more than 1,063 carats of high-quality diamonds. The Cullinan is the most expensive diamond that has ever been found. Only the deep blue Hope Diamond in the Smithsonian Institution, which is sometimes called America's Crown Jewels, is more famous than a colorless diamond.
Does Queen Elizabeth Own The Cullinan Diamond?
Later, King Edward VII bought Cullinan VI and VIII as a gift for Queen Alexandra. The rest of the diamonds were bought by the South African government and given to Queen Mary in 1910 as a way to remember the Union's first day. In 1953, they were given to Queen Elizabeth II as a gift.
Final Thoughts
After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, there have been a lot of questions about the return of diamonds that were taken during the colonization of India, Africa, and other places. The Cullinan diamond, which was found in South Africa in 1905, is also getting a lot of attention on social media.