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The Cullinan is
the largest diamond ever discovered in history, 3.106 carats or 621.2 grams.
 
The Cullinan is the largest diamond ever discovered in
history. Found in the Premier mine in South Africa owned by Thomas Cullinan, the diamond was discovered by superintendent
Captain Frederick Wells on January 26, 1905 while making his daily
inspection.
A crystal
caught light on the shaft wall; it was only nine meters from the surface.
Thinking the miners were playing a joke, Wells took it for a piece of broken
glass and pried it out with a pocketknife.
It turned out
that the uncut stone was a perfectly clear and colorless
diamond weighing 3,106 carats (621.2 grams or 1.37 pounds) and was was 37/8 inches long, 21/4 inches wide and 25/8 inches
high (twice the size of any other diamond ever found).
There is talk
that the stone was originally much larger; experts surmise that since one
side of the crystal was smooth the stone was cleaved by natural forces. Named
for Cullinan, the diamond was sold to the Transvaal
Government for 150,000
pounds and Wells received 3,500 pounds as a
reward.
The massive
stone was purchased by the Government of the Transvaal for a mere
£150,000 (of which 60% was returned as a tax on diamond mining) and
presented to King Edward the VII as a gift to celebrate the granting of
responsible government to South Africa on November 9, 1907, for his 66th
birthday
The Cullinan is remarkably not only for its size but also
because it is near flawless internally.
The diamond was
fashioned into 9 large diamonds and 96 brilliants. The largest stone, also
known as the 'Great Star of Africa', is the largest known colourless diamond
gem and is a pear shaped stone mounted in the scepter
of the British Crown Jewels, and now resides in the Tower of London.
The Cullinan II, the second largest colourless diamond is
also known as the 'Lesser Star of Africa' and is set into the British
Imperial State Crown.
The Cullinan III and IV are set into the crown of Queen
Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
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I
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531.20 carats
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Pear shape
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II
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317.40 carats
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Cushion Cut
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III
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94.40 carats
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Pear shape
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IV
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63.60 carats
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Cushion Cut
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V
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18.80 carats
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Cushion Cut
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VI
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11.50 carats
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Marquise
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VII
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8.80 carats
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Marquise
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VIII
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6.80 carats
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Oblong
brilliant
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IX
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4.80 carats
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Pear shape
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All famous diamonds
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