The Cullinan is the largest rough diamond ever found on Earth, famously called the Star of Africa. Its discovery happened in 1905 in a South African mine, by Frederick Wells, who managed the mining company operating the deposit.
The discovery took place about 40 kilometers east of Pretoria, while Wells was surveying the mine. The diamond’s name honors the mine’s owner, Sir Thomas Cullinan.
When first unearthed, the stone weighed 3,106 carats (about 621 grams) and measured 10.1 by 6.35 by 5.9 centimeters.
Immediately after the find, the diamond was marked for sale, but the process unfolded slowly. The government of the South African colony of Transvaal eventually became the recipient, followed by King Edward VII of England in 1907. It was later presented to Edward.
Because the diamond was too large to keep intact, it was sent to a Dutch company to be cut into more manageable pieces.
divided into nine parts
The Cullinan stone was split into nine major diamonds, numbered I through IX, with many dozens more smaller fragments. The largest piece, Cullinan I, became known as the Great Star of Africa and weighed 530.2 carats (about 106 grams).
Right now, nine of the Cullinan stones remain in the possession of the British royal family, including the celebrated Cullinan III. These gems gain prominence during royal ceremonies and are part of the Crown Jewels, kept in the Sovereign’s Scepter with Cross.
Cullinan I sits in the Scepter with the Cross. Until a coronation in 1985, this position was held by another remarkable gem, the Golden Jubilee Diamond, which at the time was the largest cut diamond in the world and was displayed on the right hand of the monarch.
Cullinan II is set on the Crown of the British Empire and is preserved at the Tower of London Museum.
Cullinan III and Cullinan IV were fashioned to be worn together, with Cullinan IV suspended from Cullinan III in a linked arrangement.
Even with the spread of the nine major stones, a larger, more controversial gem exists in popular lore. The Enigma Diamond is said to surpass Cullinan in size, weighing 555 carats (111 grams). However, many scientists doubt it qualifies as a true gemstone, suggesting it may have originated from a meteorite that fell to Earth about 2.6 billion years ago.
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