Cullinan diamond
Cullinan diamond, worldâs second-largest gem diamond, which weighed about 3,106 carats in rough form when found in 1905 at the Premier mine in Transvaal, modern-day South Africa. Named for Sir Thomas Cullinan, who had discovered the mine three years earlier, the colourless stone was purchased by the Transvaal government and was presented (1907) to the reigning British monarch, King Edward VII.
Starting in 1908, I.J. Asscher and Company of Amsterdam cut the diamond into 9 large stones and about 100 smaller ones. I.J. Asher and Company had been celebrated previously for their cutting of the Excelsior diamond in 1904, which until the discovery of the Cullinan had been the largest known diamond.
- Cullinan I (The Great Star of Africa): After cutting and polishing, a process which began in 1908, this stone, which weighed 530.2 carats. was set into the Sovereignâs Scepter with Cross in 1910.
- Cullinan II (The Second Star of Africa, or the Smaller Star of Africa): Completed in November 1909 and weighing 317.4 carats, this stone was set into the the Imperial Crown below the Princesâ Ruby.
- Cullinan III and Cullinan IV (The Lesser Stars of Africa): These stones, weighing 94.4 carats and 63.6 carats, respectively, shared Queen Maryâs coronation crown in 1911. They were later fashioned into a brooch called âGrannyâs chipsâ which was worn by Queen Elizabeth II.
- Cullinan V (Heart of the Delhi Durbar Brooch): A heart-shaped diamond weighing 18.8 carats. The stone was initially set into Queen Maryâs tiara before forming the centerpiece of a brooch that at times has included Cullinan VI, Cullinan VII, and Cullinan VIII.
- Cullinan VI (The Marquise Pendant): This 11.5-carat marquise-cut diamond (a stone with rounded sides and pointed ends) often hangs from the Cullinan VIII and can be worn as a companion piece to the Cullinan VII.
- Cullinan VII (The Marquise Pendant of the Delhi Durbar Necklace): Weighing 8.8 carats, this pendant was a gift from King Edward VII to Alexandra before it joined nine emeralds in Queen Maryâs necklace.
- Cullinan VIII (The Cushion Brooch): This 6.8-carat diamond is the largest stone in an ornate brooch with several other smaller diamonds. The Cushion Brooch is an emerald-cut diamond (a four-sided stone with cut corners) that supports the attachment of the Cullinan VI pendant.
- Cullinan IX (The Ring): At 4.39 carats, this pear-shaped diamond is the smallest of the primary Cullinan stones. Held by a platinum ring, the diamond was made originally for Queen Mary in 1911.
The two largest stones cut from the Cullinan diamond, all flawless, are now part of the British regalia. The Great Star of Africa, or Cullinan I, is 530.2 carats and one of the largest cut diamonds known, second only to the 545.7-carat Golden Jubilee diamond. The other diamondâthe 317.4-carat Cullinan II, sometimes called the Second Star of Africaâis the most valuable stone in the Imperial State Crown. These stones, and the remaining numbered diamonds, Cullinan IIIâIX, eventually became part of the British monarchâs personal collection (see also 5 Fascinating British Coronation Objects).