On January 25th 1905 a miner, Frederick Wells, was working 18 feet below the surface of the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa when he saw a sparkle that caught his eye. He presented the diamond to the mine’s owner, Sir Thomas Cullinan, who was in for the shock of his life! The rough diamond weighed 1.33 pounds with a carat weight of 3,106cts. The diamond was christened the Cullinan Diamond, and to date is still the largest diamond ever found!
The Cullinan Diamond was sold to the Transvaal Provincial Government which was a governing council of the Transvaal Province in South Africa. They gifted the diamond to King Edward VII of England for his birthday who had it shipped and cut into multiple diamonds. King Edward chose Joseph Asscher head of the Asscher Diamond Company in Amsterdam to cut this incredible diamond. It is told that Asscher fainted when he first cut the diamond due to stress and exhaustion.
The Cullinan Diamond was cut into 9 large diamonds and 100 smaller ones. Weighing at 530cts, the Cullinan I is the largest-cut fine quality colorless diamond in the world, and it is set the British Sovereign’s Royal Scepter (see picture above). The Cullinan II weighs 317cts and is set in the Imperial State Crown. Along with the Cullinan III which weighs 94cts, they are on display in the Tower of London.
While I cannot get you the Cullinan Diamonds, I can help you choose a diamond that you feel proud to give! Angela Cisneros Jewelry Concierge brings back the joy and confidence of jewelry shopping, so that you can celebrate with ease! My by-appointment approach means:
One-on-one appointments (personal attention and no crowds!)
Discretion and privacy (surprises remain surprises!)
Expert help from a Graduate Gemologist with 24 years of experience (yep, that’s me!)
Book your FREE appointment with me today! www.angelacisneros.com/book-appointment
Photo Credit: www.cullinan-diamond.com/cullinan-diamond-worth.html
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