1905 : World's largest diamond found
On January 25, 1905, at the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a
3,106-carat diamond is discovered during a routine inspection by the
mine's superintendent. Weighing 1.33 pounds, and christened the
"Cullinan," it was the largest diamond ever found.
Frederick Wells was 18 feet below the earth's surface when he spotted
a flash of starlight embedded in the wall just above him. His
discovery was presented that same afternoon to Sir Thomas Cullinan,
who owned the mine. Cullinan then sold the diamond to the Transvaal
provincial government, which presented the stone to Britain's King
Edward VII as a birthday gift. Worried that the diamond might be
stolen in transit from Africa to London, Edward arranged to send a
phony diamond aboard a steamer ship loaded with detectives as a
diversionary tactic. While the decoy slowly made its way from Africa
on the ship, the Cullinan was sent to England in a plain box.
Edward entrusted the cutting of the Cullinan to Joseph Asscher, head
of the Asscher Diamond Company of Amsterdam. Asscher, who had cut the
famous Excelsior Diamond, a 971-carat diamond found in 1893, studied
the stone for six months before attempting the cut. On his first
attempt, the steel blade broke, with no effect on the diamond. On the
second attempt, the diamond shattered exactly as planned; Asscher then
fainted from nervous exhaustion.
The Cullinan was later cut into nine large stones and about 100
smaller ones, valued at millions of dollars all told. The largest
stone is called the "Star of Africa I," or "Cullinan I," and at 530
carats, it is the largest-cut fine-quality colorless diamond in the
world. The second largest stone, the "Star of Africa II" or "Cullinan
II," is 317 carats. Both of these stones, as well as the "Cullinan
III," are on display in the Tower of London with Britain's other crown
jewels; the Cullinan I is mounted in the British Sovereign's Royal
Scepter, while the Cullinan II sits in the Imperial State Crown.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1905 : World's largest diamond found
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=4711
1924 : First Winter Olympics
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6787
1971 : Manson and followers convicted
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4706
1981 : Mao's widow sentenced to death
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4707
1995 : Near launching of Russian nukes
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4708
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On January 25, 1905, at the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a
3,106-carat diamond is discovered during a routine inspection by the
mine's superintendent. Weighing 1.33 pounds, and christened the
"Cullinan," it was the largest diamond ever found.
Frederick Wells was 18 feet below the earth's surface when he spotted
a flash of starlight embedded in the wall just above him. His
discovery was presented that same afternoon to Sir Thomas Cullinan,
who owned the mine. Cullinan then sold the diamond to the Transvaal
provincial government, which presented the stone to Britain's King
Edward VII as a birthday gift. Worried that the diamond might be
stolen in transit from Africa to London, Edward arranged to send a
phony diamond aboard a steamer ship loaded with detectives as a
diversionary tactic. While the decoy slowly made its way from Africa
on the ship, the Cullinan was sent to England in a plain box.
Edward entrusted the cutting of the Cullinan to Joseph Asscher, head
of the Asscher Diamond Company of Amsterdam. Asscher, who had cut the
famous Excelsior Diamond, a 971-carat diamond found in 1893, studied
the stone for six months before attempting the cut. On his first
attempt, the steel blade broke, with no effect on the diamond. On the
second attempt, the diamond shattered exactly as planned; Asscher then
fainted from nervous exhaustion.
The Cullinan was later cut into nine large stones and about 100
smaller ones, valued at millions of dollars all told. The largest
stone is called the "Star of Africa I," or "Cullinan I," and at 530
carats, it is the largest-cut fine-quality colorless diamond in the
world. The second largest stone, the "Star of Africa II" or "Cullinan
II," is 317 carats. Both of these stones, as well as the "Cullinan
III," are on display in the Tower of London with Britain's other crown
jewels; the Cullinan I is mounted in the British Sovereign's Royal
Scepter, while the Cullinan II sits in the Imperial State Crown.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1905 : World's largest diamond found
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=4711
1924 : First Winter Olympics
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6787
1971 : Manson and followers convicted
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4706
1981 : Mao's widow sentenced to death
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4707
1995 : Near launching of Russian nukes
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4708
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