WORLDS LARGEST DIAMOND DISCOVERED
The Cullinan was unearthed in a South African mine on 26th January 1905.
It weighed 3,106 carats, and was named after Thomas Cullinan, the chairman of the mining company.
The Cullinan still holds the title of largest diamond ever found.
According to jewellery lore, the uncut rock was so unfathomably enormous, and marked by such exceptional clarity and a unique blue and white tint,
that the mine’s manager initially dismissed it for a crystal – and threw it out the window!
A second look turned out to be highly advantageous.
It took some time for the rough stone to be transformed into the nine dazzling diamonds (and about a hundred smaller brilliants) that are now among the royal family’s most valuable jewels.
The diamond was sent to Buckingham Palace and presented to King Edward VII for inspection.
Despite immense public fascination, and interest from those that could afford it, the Cullinan remained unsold for two years.
Apparently no one was up to the task of figuring out how to cut such a massive rock.
Instead, in 1907, the government of the Transvaal Colony, voted to gift the diamond to Edward as a show of good faith and loyalty after the events of the Second Boer War.
The King was hesitant to accept, probably owing to political reasons, but eventually accepted the gift.
The monarch then called on the Asscher brothers, Joseph and Abraham of the famed Dutch jewellers.
A lack of technology back then meant that every single incision had to be absolutely precise.
It took Joseph 8 months to split and cut the Cullinan.
Finally, in 1909, Edward was presented with the two largest gems, the 530.2-carat pear-shaped Cullinan I, and the 317.4-carat cushion-cut Cullinan II, which were later incorporated into the Crown Jewels.
The Sovereign’s Sceptre for the Cullinan I, and the Imperial State Crown for the Cullinan II.
He also purchased the 11.5-carat marquise-cut Cullinan VI for his wife Queen Alexandra, then left the rest to the Asschers as payment for their work.
The South African government then purchased the leftovers from the Asschers, and presented them to the new consort Queen Mary, in 1910.
She would later inherit Cullinan VI from Queen Alexandra.
Mary was a great lover of her sparklies, and naturally made excellent use of the Cullinan Diamonds.
She rarely missed an opportunity to showcase them in all their over-the-top regal splendor.
On her first State Opening of Parliament, she wore Cullinans III and IV as a pendant, and took I and II from the Crown Jewels to borrow as a brooch….. resulting in a glorious 1,005.6-carat display of Cullinan ice!!!
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