World's biggest gem turns 100
2005-01-26 14:44
Cape Town - The largest gem diamond discovered to date was found at the Premier Mine (now the Cullinan) in South Africa 100 years ago on Wednesday January 26 1905.
In its rough form, the 1.2 billion-year-old Cullinan Diamond was three times the size of any other rough gem diamond found before. The diamond was considered a wonder of nature, with its exceptional colour (D Blue-White) and flawless clarity in its cut form.
The original Cullinan Diamond weighed 3 106 carats, and was uncovered at the Premier Mine founded by Thomas Cullinan, after whom the stone was named.
"The discovery of both the Premier Mine and the Cullinan Diamond are a tribute to the efforts of early pioneers of South Africa such as Sir Thomas Cullinan," explained Mark Cullinan, great grandson of Sir Thomas Cullinan.
At first, no-one could afford to buy the priceless gem.
"The diamond was sold by the Premier Mine to the Transvaal Government, which was headed by General Louis Botha, for £150 000," said Cullinan. This was a nominal amount at the time.
Goodwill Gift
"It was the Transvaal Government's decision to give the diamond to King Edward VII as a gesture of goodwill to improve relations following the Boer War and the grant of responsible government to Transvaal," explained Cullinan.
The diamond then underwent a thrilling journey to Holland, where Asscher of Amsterdam cut it into nine major gems and 96 brilliants, which now form part of the British Crown Jewels.
"The cut pieces are flawless, of extraordinary size - the largest 530.2 metric carats - and today [the four largest stones] are in the Crown Jewels of the Queen of England," added Cullinan. The other five major gems are owned by the Queen.
Thomas the great
Sir Thomas Cullinan was knighted for his discovery of the Premier Mine and his service to industry.
He was one of the co-founders and a chairperson of what became the Transvaal Chamber of Industries, a member of the Transvaal Legislative Assembly and the first Union Parliament of 1910.
The Premier Mine
The Premier Mine, near Pretoria, covered a surface area of 320 000 square metres, eight times the size of Kimberley's Big Hole.
Consequently the Premier Mine had a dramatic impact on the time's diamond production and market.
Said Cullinan, "The Premier pipe has produced 25% of the world's gem diamonds greater than 400 carats".
The Premier diamond "pipe" was created by a volcanic eruption.
"All natural diamonds are older than about 900 million years, and the Cullinan comes from a diamond pipe dated at approximately 1.2 billion years," said Cullinan.
A commemorative function may be held later this year.
Significant numbers of tourists visit the Crown Jewels displayed in the Tower of London every year.
On the net:
www.cullinandiamonds.co.za