Kathmandu. The world’s largest diamond was discovered on January 25, 1905. The weight of this magnificent diamond was 3106 carats. It was the largest diamond ever found.
It was discovered by the Superintendent of Mines during a routine inspection of the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa. However, some sources claim it was discovered on 26 January. Weighing 1.33 pounds, the diamond was named ‘Cullinan’ and was the largest diamond ever found.
Gift to the King of England
When Frederick Wells, the mining superintendent, was 18 feet [18 m] below the earth’s surface, he saw a flash of a star on the wall above him. The discovery was reported to the owner of the mine, Sir Thomas Cullinan, that afternoon. Cullinan then sold the diamond to the government of the Transvaal province. He presented it as a birthday present to King Edward VII of England.
Edward was worried that the diamond might be stolen while on his way to London from Africa. So to distract him, he arranged for a steamer full of spies to send fake diamonds. As the counterfeit diamond slowly made its way through Africa, the real diamond was shipped to England in a simple box.
Edward entrusted the cutting of the Cullinan diamond to Joseph Escher, the head of the Escher Diamond Company in Amsterdam. Escher, who also cut the famous 971-carat Excelsior diamond found in 1893, studied the diamond for six months before attempting to cut it. The steel blade broke on his first attempt, but the diamond remained intact. On his second attempt, the diamond was shattered as planned. It is said that Escher fainted from mental exhaustion.
Where is this diamond now?
Cullinan was later cut into nine large stones and about 100 smaller stones. The total value of which was millions of dollars. The largest stone is called the Star of Africa Eye or the Cullinan Eye. At 530 carats, it is the world’s largest high-quality colorless diamond.
The second largest stone is the Star of Africa II or Cullinan II, weighing 317 carats. The third piece, “Cullinan III,” is housed in the Tower of London alongside other Crown Jewels in the UK. Cullinan I is placed on the scepter of the British King and Cullinan I adorns the Royal Crown. –agency
