Cullinan Diamond discovered in the Premier diamond mine in 1905 Cullinan I diamond - Star of Africa On the orders of King Edward VII, the Cullinan I was mounted on the head of the Royal Scepter, and it is now on display in the Tower of London. The Royal Scepter of Great Britain © Her Majesty the Queen of England. Cullinan II - The Lesser Star of Africa The Cullinan II, aka the lesser Star of Africa is the second largest Cullinan diamond, with a cushion shape, weighing 317.4 carats. It is the fifth largest faceted diamond in the world; the second largest, D-color, faceted diamond in the world; the second largest cushion-cut diamond in the world; and the largest cushion-cut, D-color diamond in the world. The Cullinan II Diamond - The Lesser Star of Africa The Cullinan II has been mounted on the brow or band of the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain, which also features other notable precious stones such as St. Edwards Sapphire, the Stuart Sapphire and the Black Princess Ruby. It is also on display in the Tower of London, with the other Crown Jewels.

The Cushion-cut Cullinan II mounted on the band of the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain © Her Majesty the Queen of England. Cullinan III The Cullinan III weighing 94.40 carats has a pear-shaped cut and is mounted in the finial of Queen Mary's (Queen consort of King George V) Crown, but when required Cullinan III could be combined with Cullinan IV to form a pendant-brooch, and most of Queen Mary's portraits show her wearing this combination. Queen Elizabeth II, the present British Monarch, also uses the two diamonds in the same way. 94.40-carat, pear-shaped Cullinan III diamond Queen Mary's 1911 Coronation Crown with its finial mounted with a replica of the pear-shaped Cullinan III and the band mounted in front with a replica of the cushion-shaped Cullinan IV diamonds Queen Mary's Crown was commissioned by Queen Mary, consort of King George V, from the Crown Jewellers, Garrard & Co, for her coronation that was held on June 22, 1911.

Apart from the Cullinan III and IV that was mounted on the finial and band of the crown respectively, another famous diamond the Koh-i-Noor was also incorporated in the crown as the centerpiece of the front cross-patee. After the coronation, the three large diamonds, the Koh-i-Noor, the Cullinan III and Cullinan IV were replaced with quartz crystal replicas, and the jewels used in alternative settings. Cullinan III & IV were combined together to form a pendan- brooch, that became a favorable piece of jewelry of the of Queen Mary, who became famous for superbly bejeweling herself for formal events.

Cullinan III & IV combined together as a pendant-brooch Queen Mary of Teck wearing the combined Cullinan iii and iv pendant-brooch Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who inherited most of the fabulous jewelry collection of Queen Mary after her death in 1953, also used Cullinan iii and iv combined as a pendant brooch, and fondly referred to these diamonds as "Granny's Chips." The Queen had worn this pendant brooch on several occasions, and the most recent occasion she was seen wearing it was during Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in 2012. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Cullinan iii and iv pendant brooch Another occasion Her Majesty the Queen was seen wearing "Granny's Chips" Her Majesty the Queen wearing "Granny's Chips" during her Diamond Jubilee celebrations held in 2012 Cullinan IV The Cullinan IV, with a cushion-cut weighs 63.60 carats, and like the Cullinan III was originally mounted on Queen Mary's Crown, but as stated above, subsequently dismantled and combined with Cullinan III to form a pendant brooch.

The 63.60-carat Cullinan IV diamond Cullinan V The Cullinan V, with a triangular pear-cut or heart-shaped cut, weighs 18.80 carats, and also had a dual use, one as a piece of jewelry, mounted in a brooch or as the detachable center of the emerald and diamond stomacher of the Delhi Durbar Parure designed in 1911 for Queen Mary and the other to be worn in the circlet of her crown, as a replacement for the Koh-i-Noor. This was after the Koh-i-Noor was removed to be mounted on a new crown for Elizabeth (Queen Mother), the Duchess of York after her husband George VI's accession to the throne, upon the abdication of Edward VIII, on December 11, 1936. Cullinan V brooch In the Cullinan V brooch, the heart-shaped, 18.80-carat Cullinan V diamond is mounted on a fine radiating platinum web, with a scrolling millegrain and pave-set border of brilliant diamonds.

Queen Mary wearing the Delhi Durbar Parure stomacher incorporating Cullinan V as the centerpiece Delhi Durbar Parure Stomacher incorporating Cullinan V brooch as centerpiece Queen Elizabeth wearing the Cullinan V brooch during a visit to Tuvalu (Ellice Islands) in Polynesia Cullinan VI The Cullinan VI is a marquise-cut stone, with a weight of 11.50 carats. King Edward VII purchased the diamond from Asschers and presented it to his Queen consort, Queen Alexandra, as a personal gift. Queen Alexandra got the Cullinan VI mounted in the front cross patee of her regal circlet. Cullinan VI was inherited by Queen Mary after Queen Alexandra's death in 1925.The fashion-conscious Queen Mary decided that the ideal setting for the marquise-cut Cullinan VI diamond was as a pendant to the radiating platinum mount incorporating the 6.8-carat, emerald-cut Cullinan VIII diamond as its centerpiece, designed by the Crown Jewelers Garrards in 1911. The combination came to be christened as the Cullinan VI & VIII Brooch.

Cullinan VI & VIII Brooch However, the mounting of Cullinan VIII, like the Cullinan V was adaptable, and could be worn as part of the Delhi Durbar stomacher or linked to the Cullinan V brooch. Cullinan VI & VIII were inherited by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, after the death of Queen Mary. Queen Mary wearing the Delhi Durbar stomacher incorporating the Cullinan V & VIII Delhi Durbar stomacher incorporating the Cullinan V and VIII brooches Queen Elizabeth wearing the Cullinan VI and VIII brooch during an official visit to Sudan in 1964 Queen Elizabeth wearing the Cullinan VI & VIII brooch during an official visit to Jamaica in 2002 Cullinan VII The Cullinan VII is also a marquise-cut stone, weighing 8.80 carats. The permanent setting of the Cullinan VII is as an asymmetrical pendant to the Delhi Durbar Necklace, a negligee pendant necklace, in which the longer pendant terminates in a pear-shaped emerald, larger in size than the marquise-cut Cullinan VII.

The Delhi Durbar Necklace is one of the six components of the Cambridge and Delhi Durbar Parure, designed and crafted by the crown jewelers Garrard's in anticipation of the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary on June 22, 1911, and their subsequent proclamation as the Emperor and Empress of India, at a special Durbar organized for this purpose in Delhi, on December 12, 1911. Delhi Durbar Necklace incorporating Cullinan VII and a pear-shaped emerald as negligee pendants In the negligee pendant the marquise-cut Cullinan VII is suspended by a shorter detachable chain pave-set with ten graduated brilliant diamonds. The longer chain suspending the pear-shaped emerald is pave-set with 12 graduated brilliant diamonds. Apart from the large pear-shaped emerald in the longer pendant, the necklace also incorporates 8 other Cambridge emeralds, originally owned by Queen Mary's grandmother, the Duchess of Cambridge. The necklace consists of a double platinum chain pave-set with 94 smaller brilliant-cut diamonds. The eight cabochon-cut emeralds are set alternating with six large brilliant-cut diamonds.on the double platinum chain.

The two emeralds on the median line of the chain, the centerpiece of the necklace and the clasp behind, are cushion-shaped, cabochon-cut emeralds. Emeralds of similar size and shape are placed on symmetrical positions on either side of the median line of the necklace. These emeralds are oval-shaped, cabochon-cut stones. Each of the emeralds on the necklace is surrounded by a single layer of small brilliant-cut diamonds. The Delhi Durbar Necklace was a favorite piece of Queen Mary and she wore it usually with other components of the Delhi Durbar Parure. Queen Mary wearing the Delhi Durbar Parure including the Delhi Durbar Necklace incorporating the marquise-cut Cullinan VII Queen Mary wearing the Delhi Durbar Parure that includes the Delhi Durbar necklace Queen Elizabeth II inherited the Delhi Durbar Necklace and the other components of the Delhi Durbar Parure, after Queen Mary's death in 1953. The Delhi Durbar Necklace became Queen Elizabeth's emerald necklace of choice and she usually wore it with the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara when the pearl drops were interchanged with emeralds.

The marquise-cut Cullinan VII diamond had remained largely in its original setting, the Delhi Durbar Necklace, except occasionally when it was used as a pendant to the Cullinan VIII brooch, as an alternative to the larger marquise-cut Cullinan VI. However, such occasions had been very rare, and considering the numerous occasions the necklace had been worn by the queen, the Cullinan VII is perhaps the only Cullinan diamond seen by the public on more occasions than any other Cullinan diamonds. Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara and the Delhi Durbar Necklace Another occasion Queen Elizabeth II was seen wearing the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara and the Delhi Durbar Necklace More recent occasion when Queen Elizabeth was seen wearing the Vladimir Tiara and Delhi Durbar Necklace combination A rare occasion when Queen Elizabeth II was seen wearing the Delhi Durbar Necklace without the Vladimir Tiara Cullinan VIII Cullinan VIII is an emerald-cut diamond weighing 6.8 carats. In 1911, Garrards set the Cullinan VIII on a radiating platinum mount, similar in style to the Cullinan V brooch.

Subsequently in 1925, the marquise-cut, 11.50-carat Cullinan VI was added as a pendant to the brooch, and the combination came to be known as the Cullinan VI and VIII brooch. However, Cullinan VIII could also be dismounted from its brooch and mounted as part of the Delhi Durbar Stomacher or linked to the Cullinan V brooch. Cullinan VIII brooch designed by Garrard in 1911 Emerald-cut Cullinan VIII diamond Even though the Cullinan VIII is usually described as an emerald-cut diamond, the long rectangular facets and step-cut characteristic of the emerald-cut is not found in the Cullinan VIII. The diamond appears to be mixed-cut diamond with a rectangular shape and not a conventional emerald-cut diamond. Queen Mary wearing Cullinan VI and VIII brooch linked to Cullinan V brooch Cullinan VI and VIII brooch linked to Cullinan V brooch Cullinan IX Out of the nine numbered Cullinan diamonds the smallest is the Cullinan IX, with a pear-shape and weighing 4.4 carats.

The cut employed on the diamond is a pear-shaped modification of the round brilliant-cut known as the pendeloque.The Cullinan IX was set in a platinum ring for Queen Mary by Garrards in 1911 Cullinan IX diamond set in a diamond ring Like the Cullinan VII set in the Delhi Durbar Necklace, the Cullinan IX had also remained permanently in its original setting in the platinum ring. However, the Cullinan IX platinum ring appears to be the least used of the Cullinan diamonds, and in fact both Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth had worn the ring only on a few occasions. Queen Elizabeth inherited the ring from Queen Mary in 1953. Two of the larger Cullinan diamonds - Cullinan I & II - are an important component of the British Crown Jewels, mounted respectively on the Royal Scepter and the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain and are on display at the Tower of London, with the other Crown Jewels. The remaining Cullinan diamonds are the personal property of Queen Elizabeth II and were inherited from Queen Mary, her grandmother and the Queen consort of King George V.

You are welcome to discuss this post/related topics with Dr Shihaan and other experts from around the world in our FORUMS (forums.internetstones.com) Cullinan Diamond- The largest gem-quality diamond ever found - YouTube Cullinan Diamond- The largest gem-quality diamond ever found Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Apr 14, 2013 The Cullinan diamond is the largest gem-quality diamond ever found, at 3106.75 carat (621.35 g, 1.37 lb) rough weight.About 10.5 cm (4.1 inches) long in its largest dimension, it was found January 26, 1905, in the Premier No. 2 mine, near Pretoria, South Africa.

The largest polished gem from the stone is named Cullinan I or the Great Star of Africa, and at 530.4 carats (106.1 g) 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 (63.5 g), is the fourth largest polished diamond in the world. Both gems are in the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. The Cullinan diamond was found by Thomas Evan Powell, a miner who brought it to the surface and gave it to Frederick Wells, surface manager of the Premier Diamond Mining Company in Cullinan, South Africa on January 26, 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 before it was cut and mentioned 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 internal strain. Such strain is not uncommon in diamonds. The stone was bought by the Transvaal government and presented to King Edward VII on his birthday. It was cut into three large parts by Asscher Brothers of Amsterdam, and eventually into 9 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. Category 1000+ images about GEM . DIAMOND .

SIR THOMAS CULLINAN on Pinterest | Rough diamond, Imperial state crown and Queen mary Forward The Cullinan I (top) and Cullunan II (bottom) diamonds, which are the largest top quality cut diamonds in the world. The Cullinan I is set in the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross, and the Cullinan II is in front of the Imperial State Crown. Weighing 3,106 carats (1.33 pounds), it was the largest diamond ever found, was discovered in the Premier Mine in South Africa in 1905. The diamond was purchased in 1907 by the Transvaal Government and presented to Edward VII as a birthday gift. 1 Cullinan Diamond - 必应 Sign in Cullinan Diamond The Cullinan Diamond was a large gem-quality diamond weighing 3,106.75 carats (621.350 g) discovered at the Premier No. 2 mine outside Pretoria, South Africa, on 26 January 1905.

It was cut into several polished gems, the largest of which is named Cullinan I or the Great Star of Africa, and at 530.4 carats (106.08 g) it is the largest polished white diamond in the world. It was the largest polished diamond of any colour until the discovery in 1985 of the Golden Jubilee Diamond (545.67 carats (109.134 g)), also from the Premier Mine. Culli ... (展开) nan I is mounted in the head of the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross. The second-largest gem from the rough stone, Cullinan II or the Second Star of Africa, at 317.4 carats (63.48 g), is the fourth-largest polished diamond in the world, and is mounted in the Imperial State Crown. Both diamonds are in the Crown Jewels, which are part of the Royal Collection held in trust by Queen Elizabeth II for her successors and the nation. Seven other diamonds cut from the original belong to the Queen personally.

What was the Cullinan Diamond called ‘the Cullinan Diamond’？翻译是为什么在南非发现的世界上最大的钻石要取名叫库利南？回答要用英语回答并用Because开头。英语要简洁明了。跪求好心人详细解答哦。谢谢啦。 答 这颗钻石是在南非的普列米尔金矿山发现的，重达3106克拉。为了纪念它，就用当时就用该矿总经理的名字“库利南”来命名。aBeacuse it was found in mine of Premier in South Africa, which weight 3106 carats, named after him whom president of the mine... Cullinan Diamond Discovery The Cullinan diamond was found by a miner named Thomas Evan Powell, who brought it to the surface and gave it to Frederick Wells, surface manager of the Premier Diamond Mining Company in Cullinan, South Africa, on 26 January 1905.

At approximately 1 1⁄3 pounds (600 grams), 3 7⁄8 inches (98 mm) long, 2 1⁄4 inches (57 mm) wide and 2 5⁄8 inches (67 mm) high the diamond was twice the size of any previously discovered. Wells immediately took it for examination. Sir William Crookes performed an analysis of the Cullinan diamond, ascertaining a weight of 3,106 carats (621.2 grams). The stone was immediately named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the diamond mine, who had discovered the mine after many years of unsuccessful searching. Crookes mentioned its remarkable clarity, but also a black spot in the middle. The colours around the black spot were very vivid and changed as the analyser was turned. According to Crookes, this pointed to internal strain. Such strain is not uncommon in diamonds. Because one side of the diamond was perfectly smooth, it was concluded that the stone had originally been part of a much larger diamond, that had been broken up by natural forces.

Crookes pronounced the Cullinan "a fragment, probably less than half, of a distorted octahedral crystal; the other portions still await discovery by some fortunate miner." Naturally the discovery became a global sensation, with the developments being followed avidly by the press. Wells was awarded £3,500 for his find and the diamond was purchased by the Transvaal Colony government for £150,000 and insured for ten times the amount. Prime Minister Louis Botha suggested that the diamond be presented to King Edward VII as "a token of the loyalty and attachment of the people of Transvaal to his throne and person". A vote was staged in order for the government to find out what should be done with the diamond. Oddly enough, in the aftermath of the Boer Wars the Boers voted in favour of presenting the king with the diamond and the English settlers voting against such a move. The final vote was 42 against and 19 in favour. In the wake of the vote, the British prime minister of the time, Henry Campbell-Bannerman, decided to leave the decision of whether to accept the gift up to the king himself.

However, future prime minister Winston Churchill eventually managed to persuade the king to accept, to which Edward VII finally agreed. Churchill was presented with a replica of the diamond, which he allegedly delighted in showing off to friends and displaying on a silver plate. Cullinan Diamond Journey to England In 1905, due to the immense value of the Cullinan, the authorities in charge of the transportation were posed with a huge potential security problem. Detectives from London were placed on a steamboat that was rumoured to carry the stone, where a parcel was ceremoniously placed in the Captain's safe and guarded throughout the entire journey. However 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, albeit registered. Upon receiving the stone safely in England Sir Francis Hopwood and Mr. Richard Solomon (the Agent-General of the Transvaal government in London) travelled from London to Sandringham, Norfolk by train, accompanied by just two experienced Scotland Yard policemen. They reached their destination safely, despite reports of a potential robbery looming.

Later that day, Edward invested Solomon as a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO). Cullinan Diamond Arrival in England and cutting process The diamond was presented to the king on his birthday, in the presence of a large party of guests, including the Queen of Norway, the Queen of Spain, Bendor Westminster and Lord Revelstoke. The king had the secretary of state, Lord Elgin, announce that he accepted the precious gift "for myself and my successors" and that he would ensure that "this great and unique diamond be kept and preserved among the historic jewels which form the heirlooms of the crown". It was cut into three large parts by Asscher Brothers of Amsterdam, and eventually into nine 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. To enable Asscher to cleave 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 that when the diamond was split, 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 carats (621.2 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." Lord Ian Balfour, in his book "Famous Diamonds" (2000), dispels the fainting story, stating it was more likely Joseph Asscher would have celebrated, opening a bottle of champagne. Cullinan I Cullinan I is a pear-shaped diamond and is the largest stone cut from the rough Cullinan diamond and the clearest cut diamond in the world. It is also known as the Great Star of Africa, and is set in the head of the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross, which had to be reworked to accommodate it.

The diamond is 5.9 centimetres (2.3 in) long and weighs 530.4 carats (106.08 g). It may taken out of the sceptre and worn as a pendant or suspended from Cullinan II to make a brooch. For this purpose, the diamonds both have tiny platinum loops. ^ "The Cullinan Diamond". royalcollection.org.uk. ^ Crookes, William (1909). "Diamonds". p.78. ^ a b Crookes: Diamonds (1909) Page 77 (A photo of the rough Cullinan, marked as number 17, is facing page 80.) ^ Leslie Field (1997). The Queen's Jewels. Harry N. Abrams. ISBN978-0-8109-8172-0. ^ Dickinson, Joan Y. (1965). The Book of Diamonds. New York City: Crown Publishers, Inc. p.110. ISBN978-0-486-41816-2. ^ a b Fields, pp.

72 ^ "Gemstones Diamonds Books - Farlang". Farlang. ^ "Gemstones Diamonds Books - Farlang". Farlang. ^ Field, p. 72. ^ a b Dickinson, Joan Y. (1965). The Book of Diamonds. New York City: Crown Publishers, Inc. p.111. ISBN978-0-486-41816-2. ^ "The diamonds and their history" (PDF). Royal Collection Trust. Retrieved 24 January 2016. World’s Largest and Most Expensive Diamonds - Petra Gems World’s Largest and Most Expensive Diamonds World’s Largest and Most Expensive Diamonds Posted by S.A. & R on November 08, 2015 Upper Left to Right: Cullinan I-IV - Attribution: Chris 73 / Wikimedia Commons This is a collection of the largest and most expensive diamonds mined from different parts of the world. These diamonds made it to the list by virtue of their size and high quality. There might be other recorded diamonds larger in size, but due to the lack of quality, they are not part of this list.

The order of these diamonds is based on the original size of the stone when it was discovered prior to cutting. Before beginning the list, it is only fair to mention the Koh-i-Noor which is not part of the largest diamonds list but is the most treasured diamond of all times. Koh-I-Noor story and history makes it one of the most treasured and perhaps valuable stones of all times. It was discovered around the 13thcentury in India and has been part of the lives of many historical figures and empires throughout time. In the present time, it is part of the British Crown Jewels. Koh-I-Noor - Attribution: Chris 73 / Wikimedia Commons 1.The Cullinan Diamond The largest and most expensive diamonds are: 1. The Cullinan Diamond Discovery: The Cullinan diamond was discovered near Pretoria, South Africa in 1905. Before it was cut and polished the original stone weighed 3106.75 carats and was 4.1 inches long. Famous for: The rough diamond was cut into 105 diamonds, with 9 large and 96 small stones.

The largest of the 9 diamonds is known as the Cullinan I or the Star of Africa and weighs 530.4 carats making it the world’s largest cut and polished white diamond. The star of Africa and the rest of the diamonds cut from the original Cullinan belong to the British Crown Jewels. Value: The Cullinan estimated value is $400 million USD. Rough Cullinan prior to cutting 2. The Nameless Diamond Discovery: The origin of the Nameless black diamond or carbonado remains a mystery. Famous for: This rough diamond was originally 1,000 carats in weight, and cut into a stunning 489.07 carats polished gem. Although scientific studies on the origin of the diamonds point to Brazil or Central Africa as the only possible sources of black diamonds, the origin of the Nameless has not been established, neither is its discoverer or the date of discovery. These circumstances led to the stone being referred to as The Nameless or Anonymous Diamond. The history of the diamond is as mysterious as its origin.

The last known record of the Nameless diamond’s activity in the diamond market was its purchase by a still anonymous buyer in 2001. Value: It was sold in Dole, France for € 1,829,388. 3. The Excelsior Diamond Discovery: The Excelsior was discovered in June 30, 1893 in the Jagersfontein Mine located in South Africa. Famous for: This gem had a bluish-white tone, and weighed 971 carats. Unfortunately, its discovery was not widely publicized in the British newspapers due to the event of the mining company contract expiration and the purchase of the London firms on the same day of the stone’s discovery. The stone was cut into ten gems weighing between 13 to 69 carats each. A single large piece was never produced from the rough stone for unknown reasons. It was cut into small gems of assorted shapes that were bought by different buyers. Value: The largest stone cut from the Excelsior diamond weighing 69.68 carats was sold in 1996 for $2,646,000.

The rest of the smaller stones were used in making fine jewelry such as bracelets and tiaras. 4.Star of Sierra Leone Discovery: The Star of Sierra Leone was discovered in Diminico mine in Sierra Leone in February 1972. Famous for: The Star of Sierra Leone is the world’s third largest and best gem in quality, and the largest diamond discovered on an alluvial mine. It is also known for its perfect chemical purity, and the absence of plastic distortions in its crystal. The stone was first cut in an emerald shape weighting 143.2 carats, but had to be re-cut into 17 diamonds that meet the perfect cut scale. The largest stone of the Star of Sierra Leone weights 53.96 carats cut in a flawless, pear shape. Six of the smaller diamonds were made into a famous brooch called the “Star of Sierra Leone” by the jeweler Harry Winston. Value: In 1972, the initially cut Star of Sierra Leone was sold to Harry Winston for around $2.5 million USD. 5.

The Incomparable Diamond Discovery: The Incomparable was discovered in a pile of rubble in Mbuji Mayi in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1980s. The rough stone weighed 890 carats. Famous for: The extraordinary color of the Incomparable showed varying colors of pale yellow to amber. The biggest cut produced a diamond of 407.48 carats and graded as internally flawless clarity. The Incomparable appeared in an auction in London, and then in New York in 1988. It is the biggest diamond to be offered for sale in the public, but was never sold as the bidding did not reach the seller’s reserved price of $20 million USD. Value: Estimated at $20 million USD. 6. The Millennium Star Discovered: Discovered in 1990 in an alluvial deposit in Mbuji-Mayi district, Zaire. Famous for: The biggest gem cut from the original stone weighs 203.04 carats and is famous for being internally and externally flawless with top color grade. The Millennium is the second largest colorless diamond.

Its pear cut was done with the use of lasers, and it took three years to finish. Together with the other Millennium collection diamonds, it was displayed in London’s Millennium Dome in 2000 where an attempt at stealing the collection was stopped by the police. Value: It is insured for £100,000,000. 7. The Woyie River Diamond Discovered: It was discovered in the Woyie River in eastern Sierra Leone in January of 1945. Famous for: The uncut stone was originally 770 carats, the largest of its kind (alluvial diamond) to be discovered at the time. It was also the third biggest diamond found in Africa, before the Star of Sierra Leone was discovered in 1970. The stone was sent to London to be cut by Briefel and Lemer and was cut into 30 stones. The largest diamond cut from the rough stone is known as the Victory diamond, which is an emerald cut and weighs 31.25 carats. Value: The Victory diamond is currently auctioned at Sotheby’s for at least $25 million. 8.

The Golden Jubilee Diamond Discovered: The Golden Jubilee was found in the Premiere Mine in South Africa in 1985, the same mine where the Cullinan was discovered. Famous for: The Golden Jubilee diamond is the world’s biggest cut and faceted diamond to date. Weighing 545.67 carats, it is 15.37 carats larger than the famous Cullinan I diamond. In 1997, the diamond was brought to the King of Thailand during his 50thyear as King. It was presented to the King by the Thai Diamond Manufacturers Corporation. Value: The Golden Jubilee diamond is currently valued at $12 million. 9. The Vargas Diamond Discovery: The Vargas Diamond was discovered in the San Antonio River in Minas Gerais, Brazil in August 1938. Two gold miners found the diamond and sold it to a dealer for $56,000, who later sold it to a Dutch group for $235,000. It was named the Vargas diamond after the Brazilian president Getulio Dornelles Vargas.

Famous for: The 726.6 carat diamond was cut into 29 smaller diamonds. The largest was a 48.26 carat emerald cut, which was named President Vargas. The diamonds are D color, structurally perfect and chemically pure. Value: The 28.03 carat President Vargas IV was sold for $781,000 in 1992, while the 25.4 carat President Vargas VI was sold for $396,000. 10. The Jonker Diamond Discovery: The Jonker diamond was discovered at the Elandsfontein mine in South Africa in January 1934, just 5 kilometers away from the location of the Cullinan diamond. Famous for: Weighing 726 carats, the Jonker is the fourth biggest rough diamond ever found. It was cut into 13 gems; the largest called the Joker I, weighing 149.9 carats. Later it was re-cut into a 125.35 carat piece.

It is a D-color flawless diamond and was bought by Egyptian King Farouk in 1949, eventually making its way to an anonymous buyer from Hong Kong who bought it for $2,259,000. Value: Current estimated value is $2.25 million. 11. The Jubilee Diamond Discovery: The Jubilee was discovered in 1895 at the Jagersfontein mine in South Africa, the same mine which yielded the Excelsior diamond. Famous for: The Jubilee is the world’s sixth biggest diamond and weighs 245.35 carats. It was originally called the Reitz diamond, after Francis William Reitz, who was the current president of the state where the diamond originated. It was renamed the Jubilee in 1897 in honor of Queen Victoria’s 60thcoronation anniversary. The rough stone was an octahedron which weighed 650.80 carats. It was the largest diamond until 1905 with the discovery of the bigger Cullinan diamond. Value: Undisclosed. 12.

The Sefadu Diamond Discovery: The Sefadu was discovered in 1970 in Sefadu, Sierra Leone. Famous for: In the present time the Sefadu is the world’s biggest rough diamond, and the seventh biggest diamond to be discovered. It weighs 620 carats and remains uncut. Although its value would greatly increase once it is cut and polished, its owner Lazare Kaplan has chosen to keep it in its original state as a mineral specimen. Value: Unknown. 13. The Kimberley Octahedron Discovery: The Kimberley Octahedron was discovered in the Dutoitspan mine in the Kimberley region of South Africa in 1964. Famous for: At 616 carats, it is the world’s biggest naturally formed diamond in the octahedral form, and currently the 14thbiggest gem quality rough diamond in the world. It remains uncut up to this day, and is currently on display at the Big Hole Museum in South Africa. Value: Unknown. 14. The Lesotho Promise Diamond.

Discovery: The Lesotho Promise was discovered in August 2006 at the Letseng mine in Lesotho. Famous for: It is the largest diamond to be extracted in the current century, and the world’s 15thbiggest diamond. The stone is rated D color, and was sold for $12.4 million to the South African Diamond Corporation. The largest diamond cut from the rough stone is 75 carats. 26 diamonds in total were fashioned from the original stone. Value: Estimated at $20 million. 15. The Lesotho Brown Diamond Discovery: The Lesotho Brown, or simply the Lesotho, was found in the year 1967 at the Letseng mine in Lesotho. Famous for: The rough stone weighed 601 carats. It was cut into smaller gems with the largest at 71.73 carats called the Lesotho I. One of the smaller diamonds, the Lesotho III which weighs 40.42 carats was given to Jackie Kennedy and it was sold for $2,587,500 at an estate auction in 1996.

The largest stone, the Lesotho I remains unsold. Value: Estimated at $5 million. 16. The Centenary Diamond Discovery: The Centenary Diamond was found in the South African Premier mine in July 1986, and was named in honor of the centennial celebration of De Beers Consolidated Mines in 1988. Famous for: The original rough stone was 599 carats, and was described as “perfect in color”, being a grade D colorless stone. Its final form was presented in May 1991, weighing 273.85 carats. Value: Estimated at $90 million. 17. The Spirit of De Grisogono Discovery: The Spirit of De Grisogono was found in Central African Republic. Famous for: It is the world’s biggest cut black diamond to date, and the fifth biggest diamond. The rough stone weighed 587 carats, and was cut by the famous jeweler De Grisogono. The mogul cut gem weighs 312.24 carats and is set on a ring which was sold for an undisclosed amount. Value: Unknown. 18.

The Letseng Legacy Discovery: The Letseng Legacy was discovered in September 2007 at the Letseng mine in Lesotho. Famous for: The rough diamond was 493 carat when discovered, which makes it the world’s 18th biggest diamond found. It was bought by the Graff-SAFDICO group for $10.4 million. Value: $10.4 million. 19. The Kimberley Diamond Discovery: The Kimberley was discovered in the Kimberley mine in South Africa. Famous for: The champagne colored rough stone was originally 490 carats. Its final cut led to a 55.09 carat flawless emerald shape. Value: Estimated at more than $500,000. 20. The De Beers Diamond Discovery: The De Beers was discovered in the De Beers mine in South Africa in 1888. Famous for: The rough stone weighed 428.5 carats, and was cut into a 234.65 carat cushion cut. It is the world’s second biggest cut yellow diamond, and the biggest yellow cushion cut diamond.

It is also the seventh biggest faceted diamond (regardless of color). The diamond became part of a necklace commissioned by the Maharaja of Patiala, but eventually disappeared without any traces. Value: Estimated to be at least $4.5 million. 21. The Regent Diamond Discovery: The Regent was discovered in 1698 at the Kollur mine in Andhra Pradesh in India. Famous for: After several attempts to sell the stone to members of the European royalty, it was finally bought by the Duke of Orleans, French Regent Philippe II for £135,000 (equivalent to £18,337,900 as of 2015). It eventually became a part of the Crown Jewels of France, and is now on display at the Louvre. Value: Estimated at £48,000,000 World's 10 Legendary Diamonds - Bridal Jewelry NewsBridal Jewelry News Posted on April 19, 2013 by admin The world’s most famous diamonds are its largest diamonds.

At staggering weights up to thousands of carats, these diamonds have been cut, re-shaped and sold many times, contributing to their rich, interesting histories. Diamond symbolizes eternal love, purity and strength. A diamond is known by its 4 C’s . There are four different characteristics- the Carat, the Color, the Cut and the Clarity. A number of large or extraordinary diamonds have gained fame, as exquisite examples of the beautiful nature of diamonds, and because of the famous people who wore, bought, and sold them. A list of the most famous diamonds in history follows. 1. Spoonmaker’s Diamond Spoonmaker’s Diamond Source: Wadaphoto in JP The Spoonmaker’s Diamond the most valuable single exhibit of the Topkapi Palace Museum and part of the Imperial Treasury. It is an 86 carats (17 g) pear-shaped diamond. Surrounded by a double-row of 49 Old Mine cut diamonds and well spotlighted, it hangs in a glass case on the wall of one of the rooms of the Treasury. Various stories are told about the Spoonmaker’s Diamond.

According to one tale, a poor fisherman in Istanbul empty-handed along the shore when he found a shiny stone among the litter, which he turned over and over not knowing what it was. After carrying it about in his pocket for a few days, he stopped by the jewelers’ market, showing it to the first jeweler he encountered. The jeweler took a casual glance at the stone and appeared disinterested, saying “It’s a piece of glass, take it away if you like, or if you like I’ll give you three spoons. You brought it all the way here, at least let it be worth your trouble.” What was the poor fisherman to do with this piece of glass? What’s more the jeweler had felt sorry for him and was giving three spoons. He said okay and took the spoons, leaving in their place an enormous treasure. It is for this reason they say that the diamond’s name became the “Spoonmaker’s Diamond”. Spoonmaker’s Diamond Photo by Eric Feldman The pride of the Topkapi Palace Museum and its most valuable single exhibit is the 86-carat pear-shaped Spoonmaker Diamond, also known as the Kasikci. 2.

Koh-i-Noor Diamond The-Queen-Mother’s-Crown-featuring-Koh-i-Noor-diamond The Queen Mother’s Crown © CORBIS The Kōh-i Nūr that means “Mountain of Light” is a 105 carat (21.6 g) diamond that was once the largest known diamond in the world. It is of great historical significance. It belonged to great Mughal Kingdom of Indo-Pakistan Subcontinent. Hindus, Mughals, Persian, Afghan, Sikh and British rulers fought bitterly over it at various points in history and seized it as a spoil of war time and again. It was finally seized by the East India Company and became part of the British Crown Jewels when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in 1877. Queen Elizabeth (later Queen Mother) wearing the Koh-I-Noor set in her crown on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, after the coronation of King George VI, with daughter Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II. Photo from Telegraph, UK Many lay claim to the Koh-i-Noor, including the Taliban, who trace its origin in India through Afghanistan in ancient days.

Indian Sikhs have asked for the diamond back too, as they were the most recent holders before the British. For their part, the British are deaf to these claims, arguing since the diamond has passed through so many hands for so long, they have just as much right to the stone as anyone. 3. The Great Star of Africa The Great Star of Africa diamond The Great Star of Africa a.k.a Cullinan diamond is the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever found, at 3,106.75 carats (621.35 g), was discovered in 1905 in South Africa. It was named after the owner of the mining company. It was cut into 105 gems. Cullinan I, 530 carats is the largest of the cuts and is know as the Great Star of Africa. The Cullinan diamond was found by Thomas Evan Powell, a miner who brought it to the surface and gave it to Frederick Wells, surface manager of the Premier Diamond Mining Company in Cullinan, South Africa on January 26, 1905. The stone was named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the diamond mine.

The Cullinan was split and cut into 7 major stones and 96 smaller stones. Edward VII had the Cullinan I and Cullinan II set respectively into the Sceptre with the Cross and the Imperial State Crown, while the remainder of the seven larger stones and the 96 smaller brilliants remained in the possession of the Dutch diamond cutting firm of Messers I. J. Asscher of Amsterdam who had split and cut the Cullinan, until the South African Government bought these stones and the High Commissioner of the Union of South Africa presented them to Queen Mary on June 28, 1910. 4. Darya-ye Noor Diamond Perski Diament Darya Ye Noor Perski photo Diamenty The Darya-ye Noor “Ocean of Light”; weighing an estimated 182 carats (36 g). Its colour, pale pink, is one of the rarest to be found in diamonds. The Darya-ye Noor presently forms part of the Iranian Crown Jewels and is on display at the Central Bank of Iran in Tehran. In 1739, Nader Shah of Persia invaded Northern India, occupied Delhi and then massacred many of its inhabitants.

As payment for returning the crown to the Mughal emperor, he took possession of the entire fabled treasury of the Mughals, including the Darya-i-noor, in addition to the Koh-i-noor and the Peacock throne. All of these treasures were carried to Iran by Nader Shah and the Darya-i-noor has remained there ever since. Darya-e Noor Diamond by Postnoon Reza Shah, founder of the Pahlavi dynasty, wore the diamond as a decoration on his military hat during his coronation in 1926, and it was used in Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi’s coronation ceremony in 1967. 5. Tiffany Yellow Diamond Tiffany Yellow Diamond The Tiffany Diamond is one of the largest yellow diamonds ever discovered. It was discovered at the Kimberlite mine in South Africa in 1878 and was originally 287 carats. The facet pattern features eight needle-like facets pointing outward from the culet (bottom) facet.

Jewelry and diamond historian Herbert Tillander refers to this as a ‘stellar brilliant cut’, and lists the gem in his book “Diamond Cuts in Historic Jewelry – 1381 to 1910” (1995) among other such diamonds: The Koh-I-Noor, the Polar Star, the Wittelsbach, among others. Tiffany Yellow Diamond Film poster of Breakfast at Tiffany’s After being cut and polished into a cushion shape, it measured 128.54 carats and was classified as a fancy yellow. The diamond is part of the collection at the Smithsonian Museum. The diamond is also part of the promotion material for the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s featuring Audrey Hepburn . 6. Orlov Diamond The Orlov diamond in the Russian Imperial Sceptre Image courtesy of Elkan Weinberg The Orlov (sometimes spelled Orloff) is a large diamond that is part of the collection of the Diamond Fund of the Moscow Kremlin . The origin of this resplendent relic – described as having the shape and proportions of half a hen’s egg – can be traced back to 18th century in southern India.

The particulars of the Orlov’s story have been lost with time, but it is widely reported that the diamond once served as an eye of the statue in a temple in southern India. The man held responsible for its removal was a French deserter, a grenadier from the Carnatic wars who apparently died after touching the gem. The Orlov is a rarity among historic diamonds, for it retains its original Indian rose-style cut. Its colour is widely stated as white with a faint bluish-green tinge. 7. Hope Diamond Penland is a photographer for the Smithsonian and has taken photos of many of their gems. This photo by Dane Penland is the most well-known of the Hope Diamond in the world The Hope Diamond is the previous record holder for being the largest faceted diamond and is probably the most well known and historically interesting of all diamonds. The Hope Diamond was originally known as the Tavernier Blue which was a crudely cut triangular diamond. According to legend, it was stolen from an Indian statue of Sita and purchased by Jean-Baptiste Tavernier around 1660. The diamond was sold to King Louis XIV of France who had it cut into a 67.125 carat stone.

It was renamed the French Blue and worn for ceremonial functions in France. The diamond was rarely seen until Louis XVI gave it to Marie Antoinette who added it to her jewelry collection. When the French Revolution started the diamond was stolen and resurfaced in La Havre four years later. The diamond disappeared for another 20 years (which coincidentally is exactly how long it took for the statute of limitations to run out on the crime) when it resurfaced in the hands of a London diamond merchant Daniel Eliason in 1812. Henry Philip Hope purchased the diamond in 1824, after his death his heirs fought over the diamond. It passed through three generations of the Hope family until Henry Francis Hope Pelham-Clinton Hope fell into bankruptcy and was forced to sell the stone. The diamond continued to change hands until Pierre Cartier acquired it in 1910. They reset the stone and sold it to socialite Evelyn Walsh McLean. She left the stone to her heirs, however it had to be sold again to settle outstanding debt. Photo from the formal presentation of the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian on September 10th, 1958. From left to right Mrs.

Harry Winston, wife of the donor; Leonard Carmichael, Secretary of the Smithsonian; Dr. George S. Switzer, Cura The stone was purchased by legendary jeweler Harry Winston who had the lower portion of the stone cut to increase its brilliance. After having the diamond as part of his traveling exhibit known as “the court of jewels,” he donated it to the Smithsonian Institution where he sent it through the US postal service in plain brown wrapper. The diamond is said to have been cursed by the Hindu God from whose statue it was originally stolen because financial ruin or sudden death occurred to many who owned it. The diamond was also the inspiration for the fictional “Heart of the Ocean” in the movie Titanic. In 2005 new computer research proved that the Hope Diamond was indeed the French Blue that was stolen from the jewelry collection of Marie Antoinette. 8. Centenary Diamond Centenary Diamond 273.85 Carats, discovered at the Premier Mine, in July 1986. The ‘Centenary’ diamond weighed 599.10 carats in the rough.

Together with a small select team, master-cutter Gabi Tolkowsky took almost three years to complete its transformation into the world’s largest, most modern-cut, top-colour, flawless diamond. Gabi Tolkowsky holding Centenary Diamond Possessing 247 facets – 164 on the stone and 83 on its girdle – the aptly-named ‘Centenary’ diamond weighs 273.85 carats, and is only surpassed in size by the 530.20 carat ‘Great Star of Africa’ and the 317.40 carat ‘Lesser Star of Africa’, both of which are set into the British Crown Jewels. The ‘Centenary’ diamond was unveiled, appropriately at the Tower of London in May,1991. 9. Klopman diamond The Klopman diamond is a fabulous, legendaryand huge diamond, said to have a curse associated with it.

Klopman diamond Image by Clip Art and Crafts The Klopman diamond was originally the subject of a traditional joke, a typical version of which is: A businessman boarded a plane to find, sitting next to him, an elegant woman wearing the largest, most stunning diamond ring he had ever seen. He asked her about it. “This is the Klopman diamond,” she said. “It is beautiful, but it’s like the Hope diamond; there is a terrible curse that goes with it.” “What’s the curse?” the man asked. She said “Mr. Klopman.” Due to the use of the name “Klopman” and the somewhat dark humor, and the fact that it was one of Myron Cohen’s standards, this joke is sometimes characterised as Yiddish in origin. Some commentators maintain that names other than Klopman would not be as funny, and point to the fact that this joke has survived essentially unaltered for decades. A later joke of Myron Cohen, similar in nature, goes as follows: The very same Mrs. Klopman was told by her doctor that she had a fatal condition and would never outlive her husband.

She immediately commissioned a world-famous portrait artist to paint her portrait, which was to be hung above the mantel in the living room. As she posed for the portrait, she asked the artist “When you’re done…if you have some paints left….I vant you should add some things to the painting….. I vant you should paint on my wrist a three-tiered diamond tennis bracelet,” she said. “Also, paint on Tahitian black pearl earrings the size of grapes.” She continued in this vein, asking him to paint several rings on her fingers and a ruby and diamond tiara for good measure. The artist did as he was told, and turned out a dazzling portrait. When the job was finished, before he left, the artist said, “May I ask you a question, Mrs. Klopman?” “Sure, go ahead,” she replied. “Well,” said the artist, “painting the Klopman diamond was easy, but I had a heck of a time dreaming up all the other jewelry you wanted me to add on. Tell me, why did you want it?” A crafty gleam lit Mrs. Klopman’s eyes as she explained, “because when I’m dead and my husband brings the next Mrs.

Klopman into this house, I want her to look at my portrait and go crazy trying to find all that stuff!” 10. The Sancy Diamond Sancy Diamond Image by Diamond Museum Little is known of the Sancy Diamond before the 14th century when it was most likely stolen from India. It was first recorded as measuring 100 carats when it was part of the dowry of Valentina, Galeazzo di Visconti’s daughter in 1389. She married Duke d’Orleans who was the brother of Charles VI of France. This began a long history of the diamond being used as collateral and going in and out of pawn over the next few hundred years. Duke John of Burgundy acquired the stone as a spoil of war victory and passed it down through his family for several generations including Charles the Bold. Charles brought the stone into battle believing it was good luck. This turned out not to be true as he lost the battle and his life and the stone was missing for 14 years. It then turned up in the possession of Jacob Fugger who sold it to the King of Portugal.

When Phillip II of Spain Invaded Portugal he claimed the Sancy, however, the king escaped with several other jewels which he sold the French and English Crown. The Sancy found itself in the ownership of Elizabeth I, who also owned the Three Brothers stone which was also lost by Charles the Bold. Elizabeth secretly pawned the stone to finance a Dutch war against Spain. The diamond changed hands again and found a new owner Nicolas Harlay de Sancy whose wife had an appetite for diamonds. Elizabeth I wanted the diamond back and Sancy who eventually went bankrupt was convinced to sell it back to James I of the English Crown. The diamond went in and out of pawn again several times until 1660 when it was used to settle a debt and came into the ownership of Cardinal Mazarin. Upon his death the Cardinal gave it to the French Crown. It became part of Marie Antoinette’s collection until the French Revolution, when it was lost again. The stone found its way into the ownership of the Spanish Crown until it was “reclaimed” by Joseph Bonaparte.

The diamond disappeared again for 25 years long enough for the statue of limitations to expire, when it surfaced to be purchased by Nicholas Demidov, who gave it to his wife. It was then sold to Sir Jamsetee Jeejeebhoy and eventually to William Astor in 1865. The Astor family kept possession of the stone until 1976 when they sold it for an undisclosed amount to the Louvre Museum where it still resides today. The diamond has a slightly unusual shape and is nearly flay on one side. This type of cut is very common in older diamonds. The stone measures 55.232 carats and has a slight yellow coloration. Most experts agree that the Sancy was part of a much larger diamond that was re-cut at some point, however there is no consensus which diamond it originally came from.

Source: Wikipedia, Diamonds Eternal, Famous Diamonds, Time Share and Enjoy: World’s largest diamond found - Jan 25, 1905 - HISTORY.com This Day In History: 01/25/1905 - Largest Diamond Found On this day in 1905, at the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a 3,106-carat diamond is discovered during a routine inspection by the mine's superintendent. Weighing 1.33 pounds, and christened the "Cullinan," it was the largest diamond ever found. Frederick Wells was 18 feet below the earth's surface when he spotted a flash of starlight embedded in the wall just above him. His discovery was presented that same afternoon to Sir Thomas Cullinan, who owned the mine. Cullinan then sold the diamond to the Transvaal provincial government, which presented the stone to Britain's King Edward VII as a birthday gift. Worried that the diamond might be stolen in transit from Africa to London, Edward arranged to send a phony diamond aboard a steamer ship loaded with detectives as a diversionary tactic.

While the decoy slowly made its way from Africa on the ship, the Cullinan was sent to England in a plain box. Edward entrusted the cutting of the Cullinan to Joseph Asscher, head of the Asscher Diamond Company of Amsterdam. Asscher, who had cut the famous Excelsior Diamond, a 971-carat diamond found in 1893, studied the stone for six months before attempting the cut. On his first attempt, the steel blade broke, with no effect on the diamond. On the second attempt, the diamond shattered exactly as planned; Asscher then fainted from nervous exhaustion. The Cullinan was later cut into nine large stones and about 100 smaller ones, valued at millions of dollars all told. The largest stone is called the "Star of Africa I," or "Cullinan I," and at 530 carats, it is the largest-cut fine-quality colorless diamond in the world. The second largest stone, the "Star of Africa II" or "Cullinan II," is 317 carats.

Both of these stones, as well as the "Cullinan III," are on display in the Tower of London with Britain's other crown jewels; the Cullinan I is mounted in the British Sovereign's Royal Scepter, while the Cullinan II sits in the Imperial State Crown. Lead Story World’s largest diamond found Share this: World’s largest diamond found Author World’s largest diamond found URL Publisher A+E Networks On January 25, 1905, at the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a 3,106-carat diamond is discovered during a routine inspection by the mine’s superintendent. Weighing 1.33 pounds, and christened the “Cullinan,” it was the largest diamond ever found. Frederick Wells was 18 feet below the earth’s surface when he spotted a flash of starlight embedded in the wall just above him. His discovery was presented that same afternoon to Sir Thomas Cullinan, who owned the mine. Cullinan then sold the diamond to the Transvaal provincial government, which presented the stone to Britain’s King Edward VII as a birthday gift.

Worried that the diamond might be stolen in transit from Africa to London, Edward arranged to send a phony diamond aboard a steamer ship loaded with detectives as a diversionary tactic. While the decoy slowly made its way from Africa on the ship, the Cullinan was sent to England in a plain box. Edward entrusted the cutting of the Cullinan to Joseph Asscher, head of the Asscher Diamond Company of Amsterdam. Asscher, who had cut the famous Excelsior Diamond, a 971-carat diamond found in 1893, studied the stone for six months before attempting the cut. On his first attempt, the steel blade broke, with no effect on the diamond. On the second attempt, the diamond shattered exactly as planned; Asscher then fainted from nervous exhaustion. The Cullinan was later cut into nine large stones and about 100 smaller ones, valued at millions of dollars all told. The largest stone is called the “Star of Africa I,” or “Cullinan I,” and at 530 carats, it is the largest-cut fine-quality colorless diamond in the world.

The second largest stone, the “Star of Africa II” or “Cullinan II,” is 317 carats. Both of these stones, as well as the “Cullinan III,” are on display in the Tower of London with Britain’s other crown jewels; the Cullinan I is mounted in the British Sovereign’s Royal Scepter, while the Cullinan II sits in the Imperial State Crown. Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us ! Get This Day In History every morning in your inbox! Famous Diamonds - Valentin Magro Famous Diamonds Famous Diamonds The Great Mogul Diamond A grand jewel fit for royalty, the Great Mogul Diamond is wrapped in mystery. It was likely mined around 1650, from Golconda in southern India. The rough stone was used as part of diplomacy negotiations with the 5th Mughal emperor. The diamond was eventually cut into a high 787.5 carat dome covered in facets, known as a rose cut. The Grand Mogul Diamond stayed with the imperial family until the invasion of Nadir Shah and his Persian armies in the early 1700s.

The Shah returned to his home in Isfahan with his prize, but the diamond vanished after his murder in 1747. Though there is speculation as to the jewel’s fate, no theory has ever been disproven or confirmed. The Cullinan Diamond The Cullinan Diamond is the largest gem quality diamond ever mined, its rough weighing 3106.75 carats, or 621.35 grams. The stone was discovered in 1905 in the Premier Mine in South Africa and soon named in honor of the mine’s owner, Sir Thomas Cullinan. After careful thinking on the matter, the country gifted the jewel to its imperial ruler. The Cullinan was presented to King Edward VII for his birthday before it was sent to the Royal Asscher Diamond Company for cutting. The diamond was eventually divided into 9 major stones and 96 smaller pieces, with the larger nine serving as members of the British Crown jewels.

The biggest piece, a 530.2 carat pear shape also known as the Great Star of Africa, is set into the top of the Sovereign Septre, while the 317.4 carat cushion cut Second Star of Africa is mounted into the band of the Imperial State Crown. The remaining seven are set into a variety of pieces, including brooches, a necklace and a ring. These jewels are available for viewing online and are at times on public display. The Excelsior Diamond One of the largest gem quality diamonds ever found, the Excelsior Diamond was found in 1893 in South Africa. In its rough state the stone measured 995.2 carats or 194 grams, and unusually shaped, flat on one side and peaked on the other. This form earned it a name meaning “higher.” Despite its size and remarkably light hue, the diamond’s discovery yielded little attention. Due to the lack of prospective buyers, the Excelsior’s owners decided to have the jewel cut into smaller, more affordable pieces. The Asscher Company cut the diamond to about 20 pieces, with the largest eleven named Excelsior I, Excelsior II, and so forth.

Unlike many other named diamonds, all portions of this stone remain in private hands, away from museums and the public eye. The Lesotho Promise As its name indicates, the Lesotho Promise originates from the southern African kingdom of Lesotho. The 603 carat, golf ball sized rough was unearthed on August 2006, making it the largest diamond to be found in the 21st century. Between its size and completely colorless hue, the diamond earned 12.4 million dollars at auction. Among its new owners was Graff Diamonds, who was tasked to cut the massive find. Despite the Lesotho Promise’s stellar carat and color, its clarity was poor, veined with cracks that could threaten the stone’s structural integrity. Months of careful planning and still more of vigilant cutting were necessary to divide the diamond into separate jewels. The stones were soon reunited, with all 26 set into a piece called The Lesotho Promise Necklace. The Beau Sancy The Beau Sancy weighs a substantial 34.98 carats and retains its antique pear shaped rose cut, a flat bottomed cut adorned with triangular and trapezoidal facets.

Originally from India, the diamond spent much of its life traveling among the royal houses of Europe. It gets its name from the mid-1500s French ambassador to India, Nicolas de Harlay, Lord of Sancy, who bought the stone and took it to his home country. The diamond was soon set into the coronation crown of the French queen Marie de Medici, who eventually sold it to the Dutch royal family. Though the Queen Mary II pawned the jewel to finance her house’s political ambitions, the Beau Sancy was bought back for her son’s wedding. Between its size and its adventures, the diamond was a source of great interest in recent times, netting 9.7 million dollars at a 2012 Sotheby’s auction. The Orlov The Orlov is a 189.62 carat unusually cut diamond originating from Andhra Pradesh, India. Unlike most faceted diamonds of today which often contain a cone or pyramid shaped bottoms, the Orlov has a high dome shape with a flat base. Its round yet faceted form is a rare example of the old style Indian rose cut. Most of the jewel’s original history remains unknown.

The first confirmed record of the stone dates to 1774, when it was purchased by the Russian Count Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov in to gain favor of Empress Catherine II. While she didn’t bestow him with special gifts or attention, she accepted the diamond, commissioning a scepter to display the diamond as its centerpiece. The Orlov now part of the Diamond Fund on display at the Moscow Kremlin, still the mounting the Empress ordered. The Taylor-Burton Diamond Elizabeth Taylor and her husband Richard Burton were famous for the jewelry they loved and collected. Many of the gemstones they bought are named in their honor, including the Taylor-Burton Diamond. Its 241 carat rough emerged from South Africa in 1966, and cut not long after cut by Harry Winston into a pear weighing 69.42 carats, making it the twelfth largest faceted diamond at the time. Taylor and Burton made headlines when they purchased the diamond and its naming rights in 1969 for a speculated to $1.1 million. Ms. Taylor wore her majestic jewel to awards shows, television appearances and social events, but did not own the diamond for very long.

She auctioned the diamond in 1978 to fund the construction of a hospital. The Taylor Burton Diamond has changed hands a few times since then, and has been recut to a slightly smaller 68 carats for greater shine. The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond, previously known as the Krupp Diamond, was the actress’ favorite piece. According to the Gemological Institute of America, the 33.19 carat jewel is completely colorless and contains tiny inclusions only visible under 10x magnification. The stone has been shaped into an Asscher cut with a relatively large bottom facet characteristic of pre1920s Asscher cuts. Ms. Taylor’s received the diamond in 1968 as a gift from her then husband Richard Burton. She wore the jewel as the center stone on a ring, attending many work and social events with glittering companion. According to her, “My ring gives me the strangest feeling for beauty. With its sparks of red and white and blue and purple, and on and on, really, it sort of hums with its own beatific life.” After Ms. Taylor’s death, the diamond was renamed in her honor and auctioned by Christie’s.

Her beloved stone was sold to the South Korean company E-Land for a record setting $8,818,500, or $265,697 per carat. The Koh-i-Noor The Koh-i-Noor diamond has a long regal history. It was mined from the Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur district in India, its rough measuring 793 carats. The jewel went into the custody of the region’s Kakatiya dynasty, who placed it into the statue of a Hindu goddess. Around 1310, invading members of the Turkish Khilji house raided the Andhra Pradesh region, taking the jewel as one of their prizes. This event marked the beginning of the stone’s many transfers from one royal family to another. During its journeys, the diamond was reduced by hundreds of carats to 186 carats, and gained its name from the Persian words “mountain of light.” In the mid-19th century, the Koh-i-Noor was wrangled into British hands. After the diamond was presented in 1850 to Queen Victoria, it was displayed to the London public as a showpiece during the 1851 Great Exhibition.

Many viewers were unimpressed by the stone’s beauty, leading the Queen’s consort to have the jewel recut. Despite strict supervision and advanced technology, the Koh-i-Noor lost 42% of its mass, now weighing 105.602 carats. After its trimming, the diamond was mounted into a brooch, before it was eventually set into Queen Alexandra’s coronation crown, where it resides to this day. © 2017 Valentin Magro, All Rights Reserved.

Question: What is the name of the largest gem quality diamond in the world, at 3,106.75 carats (rough), discovered on June 26, 1905?
Answer: Cullinan Diamond