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The Cullinan diamond, which was discovered in 1905 west of Pretoria, has been shrouded in mystery ever since its discovery. It is the biggest diamond in the world. Some people even think that it was just a small piece of a much larger crystal, which would imply that there is another diamond or diamonds of the same size somewhere in the world.
The first diamond ever discovered was a whopping half a kilogram in size and was discovered in the Premier Mine just outside of Pretoria. It came in at a length of ten centimeters.
After it was determined that the item’s value was too great to be kept in South Africa, it was clandestinely transported to London.
However, when it arrived in the UK, it was discovered that it was too large to be sold.
The Cape Town Diamond Museum asserts that in 1907, General Louis Botha, the newly elected Prime Minister of the Transvaal, proposed purchasing the diamond and presenting it as a gift to King Edward VII as a sign of their allegiance to the British crown.
On the occasion of his 66th birthday, King George II formally accepted the diamond before having it cut up into nine primary parts in Amsterdam. To break up took a total of eight months. The museum claims that these are now considered to be part of the valued jewels of the Royal Family.
Even though it is still thought to be the world’s largest diamond, rumors and curiosity regarding where it came from have never stopped circulating throughout the years.
According to MailOnline, Gustaaf Molengraaff, a former State Geologist of South Africa, was the first person to claim that the diamond was part of an even larger crystal. Molengraaff analyzed and appraised the Cullinan on behalf of the Central Bank of South Africa.
According to Molengraaff, diamonds develop into an octahedral structure with two square pyramids lined up behind one another as they mature.
Many people believe that the huge diamond is only one part of a larger crystal since all four of the Cullinan’s surfaces were smooth rather than deformed and rough when they were viewed from different angles. Many people are of the opinion that there are still more Cullinan diamonds to be discovered.
According to reports, other gemmologists who studied the Cullinan agree with this assessment; nonetheless, the whereabouts of the larger stone is still unknown.
According to an article published by MailOnline, in 1907 a worker at the Premier Mine named Johannes Paulus purportedly discovered a diamond that was even larger than the Cullinan diamond.
He made the decision to sell it rather than give it to the people who owned the mine.
However, the police had him in their sights and set a trap for him. Despite the fact that they offered him amnesty in exchange for the stolen diamond, he fled the scene and was never seen or heard from again.
Five pieces of the world’s biggest diamond, the Cullinan, will be on full display during the royal coronation this coming weekend.
The diamonds form part of the royal Coronation Regalia, DailyMail reports. The Regalia will be used during the coronation.
CULLINAN I
Known as the Great Star of Africa, the Cullinan I is mounted in the Sovereign’s Scepter. It is the largest colourless cut diamond in the world.
Look out for our longer film tomorrow to learn more about the important symbolic role of the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross within the #Coronation ceremony. https://t.co/GEImDG7s3c pic.twitter.com/S2tF0tjYJS
— Royal Collection Trust (@RCT) May 2, 2023
CULLINAN II
The Second Star of Africa, the Cullinan II is set below Black Prince’s Ruby at the front of the Imperial State Crown. This crown will be swopped with the St Edward’s Crown during the Coronation ceremony. The King will wear the St Edward’s Crown as he departs from Westminster Abbey in the coronation procession back to Buckingham Palace.
The Imperial State Crown contains the Cullinan II diamond, weighing 317 carats, under the Black Prince's Ruby.
The ruby dates back to 1367 and belonged to Edward, the Black Prince, Edward III's heir. He died before his father but his gem is still used to crown monarchs. pic.twitter.com/mnCwNs9aEP
— Coronation News & Updates (@Coronation2023) March 13, 2023
CULLINANS III, IV AND V
The Cullinan III, is a 94.4-carat pear-shaped diamond, and the Cullinan IV, a 63.6-carat cushion-shaped diamond. They are usually part of a brooch.
For the coronation they will form part of Queen Consort Camilla’s coronation crown along with the Cullinan V diamond. The diamond is a triangular-pear cut diamond weighing 18.80 carats. The trio of diamonds will replace the highly controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond.
Queen Mary's Crown will have jewel tributes to Queen Elizabeth II for the Coronation of Queen Camilla.
The Crown will be set with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds which were often worn by Her Late Majesty as brooches. pic.twitter.com/4nt3aW6WS9
— Coronation News & Updates (@Coronation2023) May 4, 2023
CULLINANS III, IV AND V
The Cullinan III, a 94.4-carat pear-shaped diamond, and the Cullinan IV, a 63.6-carat cushion-shaped diamond.
They will be set in Queen Consort Camilla’s coronation crown alongside the Cullinan V. The latter is a triangular-pear cut diamond weighing 18.80 carats. The trio of diamonds will replace the highly controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond.
Queen Mary's Crown will have jewel tributes to Queen Elizabeth II for the Coronation of Queen Camilla.
The Crown will be set with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds which were often worn by Her Late Majesty as brooches. pic.twitter.com/4nt3aW6WS9
— Coronation News & Updates (@Coronation2023) May 4, 2023
