Cullinan Diamond
At 3,106.75 carats the Cullinan diamond is the largest gem diamond every found. The Cullinan diamond was split in 9 larger and 96 smaller peaces in 1908, while all the largest cut gems are in the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom including two the largest two diamonds known as Cullinan I or the Great Star of Africa (530.2 carats) and Cullinan II or the Second Star of Africa (317.4 carats).
The Cullinan diamond was found by Frederick Wells, surface manager of the Premier Diamond Mining Company in Cullinan (today Gauteng), South Africa in 1905 and was named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the Premier Mine. The diamond was bought by the Transvaal government which presented it to Edward VII of England for his 66th birthday in 1907. Edward VII entrusted cleaving of the diamond to the Royal Asscher Diamond Company which was famous for cutting the Excelsior Diamond, the largest diamond until the discovery of Cullinan diamond.
There was a great interest in cleaving of the largest diamond in the world and for
that reason many people gathered to witness the event. However, when Joseph Asscher
struck the diamond he broke the knife, while the diamond remained whole. In his
second attempt Joseph allowed nobody to be present except for notary public.
Joseph’s second attempt was successful, while the story goes that when he finally
struck the diamond which broke in two peace he fainted.
Very popular is also the story about the second part of the Cullinan diamond. Some believe that the Cullinan diamond is only one part and that there is another, possibly even larger peace which has not been discovered yet.