Cullinan diamond
The Great Star of Africa
The largest gem-quality diamond eternally discovered in the
history of mankind and approximately weighing in at 3106.75 carat is called The
Cullinan Diamond. The diamond was bring into being in 1905 the 26th of January
the Premier No. 2 mine, near Pretoria, South Africa. The biggest dimension of
The Cullinan Diamond was roughly 10.5 cm (4.1 inches). Cullinan 1 or the Great
Star of Africa is the name referred to the largest polished gem from the stone.
The story of
this discovery reveals that Captain Frederick Wells saw a flash of light,
reflected by the sun on the wall of the shaft while completing his daily
rounds. It was only when he moved closer to the shaft that he could see
slightly exposed crystal, implanted in the rock. Thinking it was a practical
joke by one of the miners, he used his pocket knife to extract the diamond that
was pronounced twice the size of any diamond previously discovered.
Captain Wells took the diamond to Sir William Crookes where
it was analyzed. The stone was immediately named in honor of Sir Thomas
Cullinan, the owner of Premier Mine, who had discovered the mine after many
years of ineffective exploring. The study of the Cullinan Diamond indicated
that it was comprised of amazing clarity but also did contain a black spot. A
black spot in a diamond is not unusual, it simply implies that the diamond
encountered interior strain; due to the fact that one side of the diamond was flawlessly
smooth implies that the stone had originally been part of a much larger
diamond, that had been broken up by natural forces. Understandably the
discovery became a global responsiveness, with the developments being followed enthusiastically
by the press.
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Captain Wells was presented with ₤3,500 for his diamond
discovery. The Transvaal government bought the diamond for ₤150,000 involving
an insurance sum of ten times the buying price.
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The Prime Minister Botha suggested that the diamond be
presented to King Edward VII as ‘a token of the loyalty and attachment of the
people of Transvaal to his throne and person’. A vote was performed which would
act as the final verdict as to what should be done with the diamond. The
final vote was 42 against and 19 in favour. The journey to England
posed a few challenges for the people responsible for transportation due to the
enormous value of the Cullinan Diamond. After implementing numerous tactic
strategies and various plans, the Cullinan arrived safely in England where
Transvaal government agents in London travelled by train to Sandringham,
Norfolk and merely escorted by 2 qualified Scotland Yard policemen. They
reached their destination out of harm’s way, despite reports of a potential
robbery looming. The diamond was presented to the king on his birthday,
in the presence of a large crowd of people.
At 1 1/3 lbs, 3 7/8 inches long, 2 1/4 inches wide and 2 5/8 inches high
