The largest diamond was found in the Premier Mine near Pretoria in Africa in 1905.
It was presented in 1907 to King Edward VII on his 66th birthday.
By the king’s order, the stone was cut in 1908. The master who undertook this task was Joseph Asscher. The operation of cutting the stone was extremely difficult; the master prepared for this task for three months. The outcome of a single strike would determine his future career. The pressure was so intense that after striking the stone again (the first strike had caused the blade to crack) Joseph Asscher lost consciousness.The division was successful; three cutters took part in the further work of dividing the diamond, and they worked for eight months. Thanks to the division, 9 enormous stones and 96 smaller ones were obtained.
The stones obtained after the division were commonly called the Stars of Africa, and the name Cullinan comes from the surname of the director of the English diamond company.
Cullinan I (The Great Star of Africa), weighing 530.2 carats, is characterized by a pear-shaped cut. It is the largest cut diamond in the world. It adorns the British royal scepter.
Cullinan II (Star of Africa), weighing 314 carats with a brilliant cut, is placed in the British royal crown.
Cullinan III (the smaller Star of Africa) weighing 94.4 carats, set in Queen Mary’s crown, pear-shaped cut
Cullinan IV (the smaller Star of Africa) weighing 63.6 carats
Cullinan V weighing 18.5 carats
Cullinan VI weighing 11.5 carats
Cullinan VII weighing 8.8 carats
Cullinan VIII weighing 6.8 carats
Cullinan IX weighing 4.39 carats
The Great Star of Africa was the largest diamond ever found in history until 1986, when the Golden Jubilee was discovered. The diamond was found, nomen omen, in the same mine in Africa. The diamond weighs 545.67 carats and is currently in the possession of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, to whom the diamond was gifted.