12/9/2023 0 Comments Nearly flawless diamond![]() ![]() Widely considered the most famous diamond in the world, the Hope Diamond receives its name from Henry Thomas Hope and was discovered centuries ago in the southern region of India. Origin: Unknown but believed to originate from India When the Cullinan was first discovered, certain signs suggested that it could have been part of a much larger crystal, but no discovery of the ‘missing half’ has ever been authenticated. It eventually yielded nine major and 96 smaller brilliant-cut stones. The Cullinan was cut by Joseph Asscher and Company of Amsterdam, who examined the enormous crystal for around six months before determining how to divide it. The Cullinan was discovered by Frederick Wells, a mine superintendent in Transvaal, South Africa in 1895 on an inspection tour of the Premier Mine. It was cut from the 3,106 carat Cullinan, the largest diamond crystal ever found. Pear shaped, with 74 facets, it is set in the Royal sceptre (kept with the other crown jewels in the Tower of London). Two of the small stones were presented to Louis Botha, who gave one to his daughter when she turned 17.Īt 530.20 carats the Cullinan I, or Star of Africa diamond is the largest cut diamond in the world. The Transvaal government bought the remaining stones and pieces, and presented the other 6 major gems to Queen Mary in 1910. King Edward bought one of the major gems for his consort, Queen Alexandra. The two largest gems were kept for England’s regalia and the rest went to Asscher as payment. ![]() The diamond was divided into 9 major gemstones, 96 smaller stones and about 19.5cts of unpolished pieces. The Cullinan was handed to Amsterdam’s House of Asscher to polish. US $1 million and presented it to England’s King Edward VII as a token of thanks for granting Transvaal its own constitution. Louis Botha, premier of the Transvaal, persuaded his government to buy the diamond for approx. The rough diamond was nearly flawless and named the Cullinan in honour of Sir Thomas Cullinan, the founder of the Premier Mine, who was visiting that very day. The Cullinan, the largest gem quality diamond ever found, was discovered at the Premier Mine on 26th January 1905. ![]()
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