The prize of the empire, the Cullinan Diamonds are nine major stones cut from the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever discovered. The diamond was discovered by Thomas Evan Powell, but named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the South African mine that produced it.
The uncut stone weighed in at a whopping 3,106.75 carats, by far the largest diamond ever found. The Traansval government, an area in northern South Africa, purchased the diamond and presented it to King Edward VII for his birthday. The rough stone was cut into 3 major pieces and further shaped into 9 stones by Asscher Brothers of Amsterdam.
The approximate size of the rough diamond. Picture courtesy of uniondiamond.com
The largest stone shaped from the nine pieces is Cullinan I, otherwise known as the Great Star of Africa. The Great Star of Africa is the second-largest polished diamond in the world, at 530.4 carats. The Cullinan I is set in the Sovereign’s Royal Sceptre, but may be worn as part of a broach with the Cullinan II.
The Crown Sceptre. Picture courtesy of famousdiamonds.com
The Cullinan II is also called the Lesser Star of Africa, weighs in at 317.4 carats and may comprise the upper-half of the broach with the Cullinan I, but currently occupies the center of the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain.
The Cullinan II, set in the Royal Crown. Picture courtesy of royal.gov.uk
The rest of the Cullinan Diamonds were used to make a number of other priceless pieces of jewelery, such as a crown for Queen Mary, and a 4.39 carat ring for Queen Mary. The fashioned pieces of the Cullinan Diamond make up a major portion of the Crown Jewels, and are virtually priceless. Not a bad birthday present for King Edward!
Matthew H for Raymond Lee Jewelers, South Florida’s premiere source for buying and selling luxury watches and designer jewelry.
