Here are ten facts about the Cullinan Diamond on the Imperial State crown and the Sovereign Sceptre
- The Cullinan Diamond is the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, weighing 3,106 carats (621.20 grams) and measuring 10.1 x 6.35 x 5.9 cm.
- The Cullinan Diamond was discovered on 26 January 1905 at the Premier No.2 mine in Cullinan, South Africa, by Frederick Wells, the surface manager of the mine. He initially thought it was a piece of glass.
- The Cullinan Diamond was named after Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the mine and the chairman of the Premier Diamond Mining Company. He was also a prominent figure in South African politics and business.
- The Cullinan Diamond was bought by the Transvaal Colony government for £150,000 and presented to King Edward VII of the United Kingdom in 1907 as a gesture of loyalty and goodwill. The king accepted the gift and entrusted it to a Dutch jeweller named Joseph Asscher to cut it into smaller stones.
- The Cullinan Diamond was cut into nine major stones and 96 smaller ones by Joseph Asscher and his team in Amsterdam. The cutting process took eight months and involved several challenges and risks. The first cut broke the knife instead of the diamond, and Asscher fainted after he successfully split the diamond into two pieces.
- The largest stone cut from the Cullinan Diamond was named Cullinan I or the Great Star of Africa. It is a pear-shaped diamond that weighs 530.4 carats (106.08 grams) and is the largest clear-cut diamond in the world. It is mounted in the head of the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross, one of the British crown jewels.
- The second-largest stone cut from the Cullinan Diamond was named Cullinan II or the Second Star of Africa. It is a cushion-shaped diamond that weighs 317.4 carats (63.48 grams) and is the fourth-largest clear-cut diamond in the world. It is mounted in the front of the Imperial State Crown, another British crown jewel.
- The other seven major stones cut from the Cullinan Diamond are known as Cullinan III to IX and range in weight from 94.4 carats (18.88 grams) to 4.39 carats (0.88 grams). They are part of Queen Elizabeth II’s personal jewellery collection and are not on public display. They include brooches, pendants, rings, and a necklace.
- The Cullinan Diamond and its nine major stones have been used by various British monarchs at coronations, jubilees, state openings of parliament, and other ceremonies. They have also been displayed at various exhibitions around the world, including South Africa in 1994. They are estimated to be worth more than $2 billion today.
- The Cullinan Diamond is estimated to have formed in Earth’s mantle transition zone at a depth of 410–660 km (255–410 miles) and reached the surface 1.18 billion years ago. It has a near-colourless hue and a high clarity grade. It also contains a small pocket of air that produces a rainbow effect at certain angles.
Source: The Independent Ghana