Cullinan Diamond
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Weight | 530.20 carats (106.04 g) |
|---|---|
| Color | white (exact colour grade unknown) |
| Country of origin | South Africa |
| Mine of origin | Premier Mine |
| Cut by | Asscher Brothers |
| Original owner | Premier Diamond Mining Co. |
| Current owner | British monarchy |
| Estimated value | over £200 million, $400 million |
The Cullinan Diamond is the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever found, at 3,106.75 carats (621.35 g).[1] It was found by Frederick Wells, surface manager of the Premier Diamond Mining Company in Cullinan, Gauteng, South Africa, on January 25, 1905. The stone was named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the diamond mine.
Sir William Crookes performed an analysis of the Cullinan diamond and mentioned among others its remarkable clarity but also a black spot in the middle. The colours around the black spot were very vivid and changed as the analyzer was turned. According to Crookes this pointed to severe internal strain. Such strains are not uncommon for diamonds, and have actually resulted in causing diamonds to explode when reaching the surface, or even in the pockets of the miners due to the exposure to the miner's body warmth.
The stone was bought by the Transvaal government [2] and presented to King Edward VII. It was cut into three large parts by Asscher Brothers of Amsterdam, and eventually into some 11 large gem-quality stones and a number of smaller fragments. At the time, technology had not yet evolved to guarantee quality of the modern standard, and cutting the diamond was considered difficult and risky. In order to enable Asscher to cut the diamond in one blow an incision was made, half an inch deep. Then a specifically designed knife was placed in the incision and the diamond was split in one heavy blow. The diamond split through a defective spot which was shared in both halves of the diamond.
The story goes, however, that the knife broke during the first attempt.
"The tale is told of Joseph Asscher, the greatest cleaver of the day," wrote Matthew Hart in his book Diamond: A Journey to the Heart of an Obsession, "that when he prepared to cleave the largest diamond ever known, the 3,106 carat (632 g) Cullinan, he had a doctor and nurse standing by and when he finally struck the diamond and it broke perfectly in two, he fainted dead away." It turns out the fainting story is a popular myth. Diamond historian Lord Ian Balfour wrote that it was much more likely he opened a bottle of champagne, instead.
The largest polished gem from the stone is named Cullinan I or the Great Star of Africa, and at 530.2 carats (106.04 g)[3] was the largest polished diamond in the world until the 1985 discovery of the Golden Jubilee Diamond, 545.67 carats (109.13 g), also from the Premier Mine. Cullinan I is now mounted in the head of the Sceptre with the Cross. The second largest gem from the Cullinan stone, Cullinan II or the Lesser Star of Africa, at 317.4 carats (63.48 g), is the fourth largest polished diamond in the world and is also part of the British crown jewels, as it forms a part of the Imperial State Crown. Both gems are on display at the Tower of London, as parts of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.
In 1905, transport from South Africa to England posed a bit of a problem with regard to security. Detectives from London were placed upon a steamer ship that was rumoured to carry the stone, but this was a diversionary tactic. The stone on that ship was a fake, meant to attract those who would be interested in stealing it. The actual diamond was sent to England in a plain box via parcel post. [4]
Rumours abound of a "second half" of the Cullinan diamond, as there are certain indications that the diamond was part of a larger crystal. It is suggested that before Frederick Wells sold the diamond to Sir Thomas Cullinan he broke off a piece which sized in at about 1,500 to 2,000 carats (300 to 400 g). If this were true, the original Cullinan diamond would have weighed approximately 5,000 carats (1 kg). [5]
[edit] See also
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ A carbonado found in Brazil weighed more than 3,600 carats (720 g), but no gem-quality material could be extracted from it.
- ^ Goodchild: Precious Stones (1908) Page 140 and also Crookes who studied the rough Cullinan before being cut: Crookes: Diamonds (1909) Page 77
- ^ Overview of the different Cullinan Diamonds
- ^ Cullinan & Cullinane Family Genealogy Project Website dealing with all Cullinan family members including Sir Thomas Major Cullinan after whom the diamond was named.
- ^ Crookes: Diamonds, chapter on the Cullinan In fact this is debatable. Sir William Crookes (the scientist working with Faraday and the first to study irradiated diamonds) was allowed to study the Cullinan before it was cut. Although not directly addressing the issue he clearly indicates the piece broke in a natural way and not by a man-made cut: "It was a fragment, probably less than half, of a distorted octahedral crystal; the other portions still await discovery by some fortunate miner.(page 77 and page 76 shows a photo of the rough Cullinan taken by the author).
[edit] External links
- The Cullinan Diamonds Detailed account with pictures
