People have always been captivated by diamonds, and apart from being associated with value, elegance, or sophistication, diamonds are also associated with authority. From the list of the rarest diamonds and gorgeous stones that somehow made the fortune of our magnificent blue planet, the Cullinan Diamond is worth the most attention as it was established as the world’s biggest diamond of gem standard. The size of this stone is phenomenal and besides, it is a real legend that goes with royal intrigues, and masterful cutting.
The peculiar story of the Cullinan Diamond, which was the world’s biggest diamond, is further discussed in this article in terms of its origin, cuts, and influence on the entire array of gems. Additionally, when comparing white sapphire vs diamond, it’s important to note that while both are beautiful and durable, diamonds are unmatched in brilliance and rarity.
The world’s biggest diamond was the Cullinan Diamond which was discovered in year 1905. Some are cut into smaller stones and are highly incorporated into the crown jewel of the British monarchy. People have made some moves to bring them back to Africa particularly South Africa which was the major producer.
Recently, a sixty-five-carat diamond was found in a shallow pit in Botswana, Africa, and the said diamond weighed 2,492 carats. There was enough diamond to fit in the palm of Botswana’s president, Mokgweetsi Masisi. It has also turned out to be the second world’s biggest diamond that has been discovered. According to the current developments, the diamond was extracted through the modern technique and it would therefore not be very difficult in the future to discover more of such types of diamonds.
But over a hundred years ago, when mining for diamonds was a very difficult process, the world’s biggest diamond was found in the year 1905, namely The Cullinan Diamond.
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Public Interest in the World’s Biggest Diamond
Shortly after the world’s biggest diamond was discovered it was taken to the newly established branch of the Standard Bank in Johannesburg where it could be seen by 8000 – 9000 people. The rough gem was given to Premier Mining Co.’s London sales agent S. Neumann & Co. in April 1905; Since it was the world’s biggest diamond and was so valuable, detectives were hired to accompany a steamboat the stone was rumored to be in and parcel was ceremoniously locked in the captain’s safe and guarded the entire voyage.
This was a ruse; the stone in that ship was a fake and its purpose was to lure people who would have an interest in possessing the said stone. Cullinan was later posted to the United Kingdom in a simple small box by post and was registered. When introduced on the English market it was delivered to Buckingham Palace for examination by King Edward VII. This failed to attract buyers even though it enthused a lot of people leading to Cullinan remaining in the market unsold for two years.
The world’s biggest diamond appeared in April 1905 in London and though many people showed their interest it was two years before the set was not sold at all. The Transvaal Colony government purchased the Cullinan in 1907 and Louis Botha, the prime minister offered the diamond to Edward VII, The British Monarch of the area. The world’s biggest diamond was then cut by Joseph Asscher & Co. more specifically in Amsterdam.
Discovery and Origins of the World’s Biggest Diamond
It was during early January 1905 that a South African miner by the name of Frederick Wells, working at Premier Mine near Pretoria, South Africa came across the world’s biggest diamond i.e. Cullinan Diamond. When found it was in a remarkable state of purity and weighed 3,106 carats, which is approximately 1. 37 pounds or 621. This makes it the world’s biggest diamond of gem quality that has ever been found in the world. This huge diamond was first named the Cullinan after Sir Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the Premier Mine in South Africa.
It brought a lot of attention mainly because of its size and because of its clarity which was beyond doubt one of the best. In accordance with the results of the analysis, it was characterized by an unprecedented saturation of color and an absence of inclusions with reference to other diamonds of the same period. It caused tremendously huge interest and expectation as to whether it would be valuable and would greatly affect the diamond market.
The Cutting Process of the World’s Biggest Diamond
Since the Cullinan Diamond was the world’s biggest diamond, its cutting and polishing were complicated. The said diamond was acquired by the Transvaal Colony government which later donated the diamond to King Edward VII of the United Kingdom in honor of his coronation and as a goodwill gesture. The work of cutting the world’s biggest diamond was given to Joseph Asscher & Co. which was one the leading diamond-cutting companies of that period.
Slicing it was a work of art that clearly told how delicate it was to handle the task. Absolutely thorough scrutiny was given to the diamond; the plan was made to cleave the diamond in order to enhance its fire and to give the diamond the maximum weight. The first major cleaving of the world’s biggest diamond took place in 1908, and it resulted in the creation of several major gems, including:
Cullinan I (The Great Star of Africa)
Cullinan I also known as Great Star of Africa is a pendeloque-cut brilliant of 530. 2 carats (106. 04 g) and there are 74 facets. It is placed at the pinnacle of the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross, forged in 1661, and needs to be rebuilt in 1910 to accommodate it. Cullinan I is actually cut from the rough diamond and it was replaced by The Cullinan II, which is the world’s biggest cut diamond and weighs 545. 67-carat (109. 134 g) brown Golden Jubilee Diamond in 1992 but the record proven by it is still the largest colorless cut diamond in the world.
There are slight defects in clarity which include a few tiny cleavages and a small patch of graining. The 5. 89 cm × 4. 54 cm × 2. The seventh Cullinan Diamond measuring 77cm (2. 32 in × 1. 79 in × 1. 09 in) has loops that can be removed for wearing as a pendant swinging from Cullinan II to create a brooch. Queen Mary, wife of George V wore it in this manner most of the time. It was estimated that in the year 1908, the stone was worth US$2. 5 million (or about US$60 million when this was written in December 2023) – the amount that was over two and a half times the rough Cullinan’s (world’s biggest diamond) estimated value.
Cullinan II (The Lesser Star of Africa)
Cullinan II also referred to as the Second Star of Africa, is a cushion-cut brilliant with 66 facets with an approximate weight of 317. 4 carats (63. 48 g) the emeralds set on the front part of the Imperial State Crown beneath the Black Prince’s Ruby – actually a spinel. It measures 4. 54 cm × 4. 08 cm × 2. 9 Vo AC = 42 cm (1. 79 in × 1. 61 in × 0. 95 in). It has small internal features, scratches on the table facet, and a small chip at the girdle. As is the case with Cullinan I, it is set in a yellow gold casing that is screwed onto the crown of the watch.
Cullinan III
The Lesser Star of Africa is known also as Cullinan III, It is pear-cut and it has 94. 4 carats (18. 88 g) This is true because in 1911 Queen Mary wife and queen consort of George V had it placed at the top cross pattée of a crown that she purchased for her coronation. In 1912 the Delhi Durbar Tiara also featured instead of a crown at the Delhi Durbar the previous year which was worn by her husband accompanied by the Imperial Crown of India was modified to take Cullinans III and IV.
Thus, in 1914 Cullinan III was set forever on the crown by a crystal copy. Elizabeth II often pinned Cullinan III and Cullinan IV although she wore the latter more often as a pendant with a diamond drop. All in all, the brooch is 6. 5 cm (2. 6 in) long and 2. In this configuration, the brushes are 4 cm (0. 94 in) wide. Cullinan III has also been used to hang the Coronation Necklace Currently it swaps with Cullinan IV 22. 4-carat (4. 48 g) of Lahore Diamond.
Cullinan IV
Cullinan IV or known as Lesser Star of Africa is square cut and its weight is 63. 6 carats (12. 72 g). It was also placed at the base of Queen Mary’s Crown but this was done away with in 1914. On 25 March 1958, during a state visit to the Netherlands, Queen Elizabeth II disclosed that for their parents these stones are nicknamed ‘‘Granny’s Chips.’’ They went to the Asscher Diamond Company, where the diamond had been cut by Cullinan, 50 years back.
That was the first time the Queen has been seen wearing the brooch. During her visit she removed the brooch, unpinning it so that Louis Asscher, nephew of Joseph Asscher who split the rough diamond could examine it. After 84 years, he was happily shocked that the Queen had come along with the diamonds for him realizing how much he had missed the sight of them after many years.
Cullinan V
Cullinan V is an 18-letter building distinctive phrase that segments into Cullinan itself which is largely recognized and five consecutive Vs. Diamond of 8 carats – 3. 76 g, shaped like a heart, and placed in the middle of a platinum brooch that was a part of the stomacher intended for Queen Mary to wear at the Delhi Durbar meeting in 1911.
Although Cullinan V was made to be displayed in this brooch, it is pavé-set and is enclosed by a border of Diamonds. It can be suspended from the VIII brooch and can be used for suspension of the VII pendant. This was often worn like this by Mary. In May 2023 the brooch was pinned onto the front of the cross Queen Mary’s Crown for the coronation of Queen Camilla instead of the culturally sensitive and disputed, Koh-e-Noor diamond.
Cullinan VI
Cullinan VI is a marquise-cut diamond and it weighs 11. 5 carats (2. 30 g). It is worn from the brooch enclosing Cullinan VIII and as the component of the stomacher of the Delhi Durbar parure. Cullinan VI can in the same manner as VIII be mounted in conjunction with them to create a third brooch encompassed by some 96 lesser diamonds. It was designed at more or less the same time when the Cullinan V heart-shaped brooch was made as the two items have the same shape.
Cullinan VII
Cullinan VII is also marquise cut and it is 8 carats in weight. The foil used in these experiments weighed approximately 8 carats, that is, 1. 76 grams. It has its origins in the British monarchy and was given to the then-king, Edward VII, and queen and wife, Alexandra. After his demise she got it presented to Queen Mary who wore it as a pendant that was suspended from the diamond and emerald Delhi Durbar necklace which forms a part of the parure.
Cullinan VIII
Cullinan VIII is an oblong-cut diamond of six carats. This would be roughly 8 carats or 1. 36 grams. The one displayed is situated in the midst of a brooch which is a part of the stomacher of the Delhi Durbar parure. Together with Cullinan VI, it makes a brooch.
Cullinan IX
Cullinan IX is the smallest of the principal diamonds to be derived from Cullinan rough. It is a pendeloque or stepped pear-cut stone and it weighs 4. 39 carats (0. 878 grams) and is mounted in a platinum ring which is called the Cullinan IX Ring. So in total 9 diamonds were carved from the Cullinan rough which was the world’s biggest diamond.
Historical Significance and Legacy of the World’s Biggest Diamond
The history of the world’s biggest diamond i.e. Cullinan Diamond including the state it was found into the current state has a great history and great gemology. The giving of the diamond to King Edward VII was as much of political and diplomatic significance since it was an attempt to show the relationship between the British Empire and Colonial territories.
The Cullinan diamonds have always occupied a special status in the British Crown Jewels after they were initialized. And their beauty as well as history still attract the interest and admiration of people. The path of the diamonds, from cut rough to gemstones, conveys the skill of gem cutters in the early part of the 20th century as well as the eternal attraction to diamonds.
Modern Impact
It is thus very important to understand that the Cullinan diamond which was the world’s biggest diamond impact does not end with the gemstone itself. It was a sensational discovery that exacerbated a turning point in the diamond-cutting industry as well as affected the market for large diamonds. The Cullinan imposed a new benchmark of gem quality and size to the rest of the world with its impact on the field of gemology and beyond.
Today the Cullinan diamond is a representation of luxury and power across the world inspiring and delighting many. They are still popular not only for the sizes and the clearness but for the deviation of the culture and the history of the twentieth century.
Conclusion
Cullinan Diamond is not just the world’s biggest diamond – it is the gemstone that resides in the annals of human history and the extraordinary skills of jewel cutters. Cullinan diamond comes from one of the greatest discoveries ever made to becoming some of the most celebrated stones ever known in history. Legend has it even today that precious artifacts may be concealed underground and this made peoples’ hearts swell with happiness and pride knowing that it belonged to them and was one of the world’s most valuable finds.
FAQs about the World’s Biggest Diamond
Q1. How much is the world’s biggest diamond worth?
The Cullinan is the biggest rough diamond of gem quality recorded to have been discovered and it has a weight of 3,106. 75ct. It was mined in South Africa in the year 1905 and then presented to King Edward VII.
Q2. Who is the owner of the world’s biggest diamond?
The biggest diamond that has ever been found is the Cullinan diamond which was mined in modern-day South Africa in 1905. It’s very much a significant portion of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.
Q3. Who owns the most expensive diamond?
Koh-i-Noor or Koh-i-Nur is the most expensive diamond in the entire world today. The diamond is also referred to as the Mountain of Light diamond and is believed to weigh 105. 6 carats and is one of the biggest cut diamonds in this world. Koh-i-Noor diamond is colorless; it is an oval brilliant-cut diamond.
Q4. Are Cullinan and Koh-i-Noor the same?
These consist of the Cullinan V which is in a triangular pear cut and measures 18 carats. 80 carats. Originally set in a brooch for Queen Mary, it substituted the Koh-i-Noor in the circlet of the crown as well.
Q5. Who owns Koh-i-Noor Diamond?
The diamond was cut again and the present shape and size of the diamond was achieved in London where the diamond was set in the Crown of Queen Elizabeth, wife of King George Vl. India has been keen on the British Monarchs and still has the Koh-i-Noor with the British Crown Jewels with owners claims from India, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan.
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