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Cullinan Diamond |
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| This
3,106 carat diamond is the largest gem diamond ever found.
It was discovered in 1905 at the Premier mines in South
Africa by Frederick Wells, a mine superintendent. He was
walking through the mine at the end of the day, when he
happened to glance up. He noticed a large mass in one
side of the mine wall. Thinking it was a big piece of
glass embedded by a practical joker he examined what turned
out to be a huge diamond. Wells received $10,000 for his
find. The diamond was named Cullinan, after the mine's
owner Sir Thomas Cullinan. |
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Weight:
3,106 carat (rough)
Cut: Final cut Pear shaped diamond |
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| It was purchased
for $800,000 as a present for King Edward VII for his
66th birthday. The stone was sent to the Asscher Brothers
in Amsterdam to be cut. They had successfully cut the
Excelsior, previously the largest diamond. The huge uncut
stone was studied for months. Then on February 10, 1908,
Mr. Asscher stuck the steel cleaver's blade to make the
first cut. The blade broke while the diamond remained
intact. |
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| On the second
attempt, it split exactly as planned. It was reported
that after the second cut, Mr. Asscher fainted. Further
cuts produced three principal parts, and these in tern
were cut into 9 major gems, 96 smaller brilliants, and
9.5 carats of unpolished pieces.The Cullinan I was the
largest gem produced from the rough stone. It is a pear
shaped stone of 530.2 carats and is the world's largest
cut diamond. |
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| The Cullinan
I is now in the head of the royal scepter in the British
crown jewels. The second largest cut diamond, the Cullinan
II, is a cushion-shaped stone weighing 317.4 carats, and
is set in the British imperial state crown. |
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