Discovered in 1905 at the Premier Mine, the 3,106-carat stone was covertly mailed to London via parcel post while a guarded replica served as a decoy on a ship. The Asscher firm in Amsterdam took eight months of intensive labor to cleave the diamond into nine primary stones, 97 smaller brilliant cuts, and unpolished fragments. The largest piece, Cullinan I, was added to the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross under King George V, while Cullinan II was placed in the Imperial State Crown. This historic sceptre hosting the premier gem has been an integral part of every British coronation since 1661.
Key points
The Transvaal government gifted the historic diamond to King Edward VII to restore diplom…: The Transvaal government gifted the historic diamond to King Edward VII to restore diplomatic relations.
Artisans at the Asscher firm cleaved the rough stone into nine major diamonds and 97 smal…: Artisans at the Asscher firm cleaved the rough stone into nine major diamonds and 97 smaller gems.
The two largest finished stones now reside permanently within the British Crown Jewels.: The two largest finished stones now reside permanently within the British Crown Jewels.
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A glint on a mine wall in South Africa led to the discovery of one of the most celebrated diamonds in history. On January 26, 1905, Frederick Wells, the surface manager of the Premier Mine near Pretoria, spotted a large crystal embedded in the rock and prised it out with his pocket knife. What initially appeared to be an unusual find turned out to be a 3,106-carat rough diamond, later named the Cullinan. More than a century later, its largest polished stone, the 530.2-carat Great Star of Africa, remains set in Britain's Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross, one of the most recognisable objects in the Crown Jewels.
According to the Royal Collection Trust, the uncut diamond measured approximately 10.1 cm long, 6.35 cm wide and 5.9 cm deep. Its exceptional size, clarity and blue-white appearance made it an extraordinary discovery. It remains the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, according to the Historic Royal Palaces, which manages the Tower of London's historic site and its display of the Crown Jewels.
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The milestone reinforces the leg-spinner's dominant status as the premier wicket-taker in global short-format cricket. By setting a new international benchmark in Sharjah, he has established a substantial statistical lead over his closest active peers. The accomplishment further cements his legacy as Afghanistan's most decorated bowler across both limited-overs formats.
The Football Association upheld a three-match domestic ban for 16-year-old Max Dowman following an independent regulatory commission review. The punishment keeps the youngster sidelined for crucial domestic fixtures through late November. However, the disciplinary action applies exclusively to English competitions, preserving his eligibility for upcoming European fixtures.