View source for Cullinan Diamond

{{short description|Largest gem-quality diamond ever discovered}}
{{redirect|Star of Africa}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox gem
| name           = Cullinan Diamond
| image          = File:Rough cullinan diamond.jpg
| caption        = The rough diamond
| weight         = {{convert|3106|carat|g|abbr=on}}
| colour         = Near colourless<ref>Bariand and Duchamp, p. 101.</ref>
| cut            = 105 stones of assorted cuts
| mine           = [[Premier Mine]]
| country        = South Africa
| cutter         = [[Royal Asscher Diamond Company|Joseph Asscher & Co.]]
| original_owner = Premier Diamond Mining Company
| owner          = [[Charles&nbsp;III]] in right of [[The Crown]]
| value          = 
|found=26 January 1905}}

The '''Cullinan Diamond''' is the largest [[Diamond#Gem-grade diamonds|gem-quality]] rough [[diamond]] ever found,<ref name="centennial">Scarratt and Shor, p. 120.</ref> weighing {{convert|3106|carat|g|2}}, discovered at the [[Premier Mine|Premier No.2 mine]] in [[Cullinan, Gauteng|Cullinan]], South Africa, on 26 January 1905. It was named after [[Thomas Cullinan (diamond magnate)|Thomas Cullinan]], the owner of the mine. In April 1905, it was put on sale in London, but despite considerable interest, it was still unsold after two years. In 1907, the [[Transvaal Colony]] government bought the Cullinan and Prime Minister [[Louis Botha]] presented it to [[Edward&nbsp;VII]]. It was then cut by [[Royal Asscher Diamond Company|Joseph Asscher & Co.]] in [[Amsterdam]].

Cullinan produced stones of various cuts and sizes, the largest of which is named Cullinan I, and named the Great Star of Africa by Edward VII, and at {{convert|530.4|carat|g|2}} it is the largest cut clear-diamond in the world. The stone is mounted in the head of the [[Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross]]. The second largest cut clear-diamond is Cullinan&nbsp;II or the Second Star of Africa, weighing {{convert|317.4|carat|g}}, mounted in the [[Imperial State Crown]]. Both are part of the [[Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom]]. Seven other major diamonds, weighing a total of {{convert|208.29|carat|g|2}}, were privately owned by [[Elizabeth&nbsp;II]], who inherited them from her grandmother, [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]], in 1953. The Queen also owned minor [[Brilliant (diamond cut)|brilliants]] and a set of unpolished fragments.

== Discovery and early history ==
[[File:FGS Wells with Cullinan Diamond.jpg|thumb|upright|Frederick Wells, mine manager, with the diamond]]
The Cullinan is estimated to have formed in Earth's mantle [[Transition zone (Earth)|transition zone]] at a depth of {{convert|410|–|660|km|mi|abbr=on}} and reached the surface 1.18 billion years ago.<ref>Smith, et al., pp. 1403–1405</ref> It was found {{convert|18|ft|m|order=flip}} below the surface at Premier Mine in [[Cullinan, Gauteng|Cullinan]], [[Transvaal Colony]], by Frederick Wells, surface manager at the mine, on 26 January 1905. It was approximately {{convert|10.1|cm|in}} long, {{convert|6.35|cm|in}} wide, {{convert|5.9|cm|in}} deep, and weighed {{convert|3106|carat|g|abbr=off}}.<ref name="rct">{{cite web|url=https://d9y2r2msyxru0.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/null/press_release_cullinan_1.pdf|title=Jewellery made from the world's largest diamond is to go on display|date=15 May 2012|access-date=21 December 2017|publisher=Royal Collection Trust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222105503/https://d9y2r2msyxru0.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/null/press_release_cullinan_1.pdf|archive-date=22 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Newspapers called it the "Cullinan Diamond", a reference to Sir&nbsp;[[Thomas Cullinan (diamond magnate)|Thomas Cullinan]], who opened the mine in 1902.<ref>Scarratt and Shor, p. 122.</ref> It was three times the size of the [[Excelsior Diamond]], found in 1893 at [[Jagersfontein Mine]], weighing {{convert|972|carat|g}}. Four of its eight surfaces were smooth, indicating that it once had been part of a much larger stone broken up by natural forces. It had a blue-white hue and contained a small pocket of air, which at certain angles produced a rainbow, or [[Newton's rings]].<ref>Hatch, pp. 170–172.</ref>

Shortly after its discovery, Cullinan went on public display at the [[Standard Bank (historic)|Standard Bank]] in [[Johannesburg]], where it was seen by an estimated 8,000–9,000 visitors. In April 1905, the rough gem was deposited with Premier Mining Co.'s London sales agent, [[Newman baronets#Neumann (later Newman) baronets of Cecil Lodge (1912 – present)|S. Neumann & Co]].<ref>Scarratt and Shor, p. 123.</ref> Due to its immense value, detectives were assigned to the [[RMS Kenilworth Castle (1903)|RMS ''Kenilworth Castle'']] that was rumoured to be carrying the stone, and a parcel was ceremoniously locked in the captain's safe and guarded on the entire journey. It was a diversionary tactic – the stone on that ship was fake, meant to attract those who would be interested in stealing it. Cullinan was sent to the United Kingdom in a plain box via registered post.<ref>Dickinson, pp. 110–111.</ref> On arriving in London, it was conveyed to [[Buckingham Palace]] for inspection by King [[Edward&nbsp;VII]]. Although it drew considerable interest from potential buyers, Cullinan went unsold for two years.<ref name="rct"/>

===Presentation to Edward VII===
Transvaal Prime Minister [[Louis Botha]] suggested buying the diamond for Edward&nbsp;VII as "a token of the loyalty and attachment of the people of the Transvaal to His Majesty's throne and person".<ref>Lee, pp. 489–490.</ref> In August 1907, a vote was held in the Legislative Council<ref>The Cullinan Diamond Centennial, Gems and Gemology, 2006</ref> on the Cullinan's fate, and a motion authorising the purchase was carried by 42 votes in favour to 19 against. Initially, [[Henry Campbell-Bannerman]], then British Prime Minister, advised the king to decline the offer, but he later decided to let Edward&nbsp;VII choose whether or not to accept the gift.<ref>Helme, p. 86.</ref> Eventually, he was persuaded by [[Winston Churchill]], then Colonial Under-Secretary. For his trouble, Churchill was sent a replica, which he enjoyed showing off to guests on a silver plate.<ref name="field">Field, p. 72.</ref> The Transvaal Colony government bought the diamond on 17 October 1907 for <!-- South African pound was introduced in 1910. -->£150,000,<ref name="bariand">Bariand and Duchamp, p. 97.</ref> which adjusted for pound-sterling inflation is equivalent to £{{formatprice|{{Inflation|UK-GDP|150000|1907|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|UK-GDP}}.{{Inflation-fn|UK-GDP}} Due to a 60% tax on mining profits, the Treasury received some of its money back from the Premier Diamond Mining Company.<ref>Cartwright, p. 73.</ref>

The diamond was presented to the king at [[Sandringham House]] by Agent-General of the colony, [[Richard Solomon (barrister)|Sir Richard Solomon]], on 9 November 1907 – his 66th birthday – in the presence of a large party of guests, including the [[Sophia of Nassau|Queen of Sweden]], the [[Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg|Queen of Spain]], the [[Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster|Duke of Westminster]] and [[John Baring, 2nd Baron Revelstoke|Lord Revelstoke]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14879874 |title=SECOND EDITION. The King's Birthday. Presentation of the Cullinan Diamond. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=11 November 1907 |access-date=10 April 2020 |page=5 |via=Trove |archive-date=2 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002172612/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14879874 |url-status=live }}</ref> The king asked his colonial secretary, [[Victor Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin|Lord Elgin]], to announce that he accepted the gift "for myself and my successors" and that he would ensure "this great and unique diamond be kept and preserved among the historic jewels which form the heirlooms of the Crown".<ref name="field"/>

===Cutting process===
[[File:Joseph Asscher splitting the Cullinan diamond.jpg|thumb|upright|Joseph Asscher making the split]]
The king chose [[Royal Asscher Diamond Company|Joseph Asscher & Co.]] of [[Amsterdam]] to cleave and polish the rough stone into brilliant gems of various cuts and sizes. [[Abraham Asscher]] collected it from the [[Colonial Office]] in London on 23 January 1908.<ref name="Balfour, p. 71">Balfour, p. 71.</ref> He returned to the Netherlands by train and ferry with the diamond in his coat pocket.<ref name="bariand"/> Meanwhile, to much fanfare, a [[Royal Navy]] ship carried an empty box across the [[North Sea]], again throwing off potential thieves. Even the captain was unaware that his "precious" cargo was a decoy.<ref>Seff and Seff, p. 252.</ref>

On 10 February 1908, the rough stone was split in half by Joseph Asscher at his diamond-cutting factory in Amsterdam.<ref>Helme, p. 88.</ref> At the time, technology had not yet evolved to guarantee the quality of modern standards, and cutting the diamond was difficult and risky. After weeks of planning, an incision {{convert|0.5|in|mm}} deep was made to enable Asscher to cleave the diamond in one blow. Making the incision alone took four days, and a steel knife broke on the first attempt,<ref name="rct"/> but a second knife was fitted into the groove and split the stone cleanly in two along one of four possible [[Cleavage (crystal)|cleavage]] planes.<ref name="crookes">Crookes, pp. 77–79.</ref> In all, splitting and cutting the diamond took eight months, with three people working 14 hours per day to complete the task.<ref name="rct"/>

"The tale is told of Joseph Asscher, the greatest cleaver of the day," wrote Matthew Hart in his book ''Diamond: A Journey to the Heart of an Obsession'' (2002), "that when he prepared to cleave the largest diamond ever known … he had a doctor and nurse standing by and when he finally struck the diamond … he fainted dead away".<ref>Hart, p. 204.</ref> Ian Balfour, in his book ''Famous Diamonds'' (2009), dispels the fainting story, suggesting it was more likely Joseph would have celebrated, opening a bottle of champagne.<ref name="Balfour, p. 71"/> When Joseph's nephew Louis heard the story, he exclaimed "No Asscher would ever faint over any operation on any diamond".<ref>Koskoff, p. 174.</ref>

{{wide image|Cullinanroughpieces.jpg|750px|align-cap=center|Nine largest stones split from the rough Cullinan diamond}}

==Diamonds cut from the Cullinan==
Cullinan produced 9 major stones of {{convert|1055.89|carat|g}} in total,<ref>Spencer, pp. 318–326.</ref> plus 96 minor [[Brilliant (diamond cut)|brilliants]] and some unpolished fragments weighing {{convert|19.5|carat|g}}.<ref name="Balfour, p. 73">Balfour, p. 73.</ref> All but the two largest stones – Cullinans&nbsp;I and&nbsp;II – remained in Amsterdam by arrangement as the fee for Asscher's services,<ref name="Balfour, p. 73"/> until the South African government bought them (except Cullinan&nbsp;VI, which Edward&nbsp;VII had purchased and given to his wife [[Alexandra of Denmark|Queen Alexandra]] in 1907), and the [[High Commissioner for Southern Africa]] presented them to [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]] on 28 June 1910.<ref name="field"/> Mary also inherited Cullinan&nbsp;VI from Alexandra, and she left all her Cullinan diamonds to her granddaughter [[Elizabeth&nbsp;II]] in 1953.<ref>Dickinson, p. 114.</ref> Cullinans I and II are part of the Crown Jewels,<ref name="centennial"/> which belong to the monarch in right of the Crown.<ref>{{Cite Hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |house=House of Commons |title=Crown Jewels |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1992/jul/16/crown-jewels#column_944w |date=16 July 1992 |volume=211 |column=944W }}</ref>

Asscher sold the minor stones to the South African government, which distributed them to Queen Mary; [[Louis Botha]], the then prime minister of South Africa; the diamond merchants Arthur and Alexander Levy, who supervised the cutting of Cullinan;<ref>Scarratt and Shor, p. 125.</ref> and Jacob Romijn (later Romyn), who co-founded the first trade union in the diamond industry.<ref>Balfour, pp. 73–75.</ref> Some were set by Mary into a long platinum chain, which Elizabeth never wore in public, saying that "it gets in the soup".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Life|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IvwxAQAAIAAJ|volume=10|date=July 1987|magazine=Time|page=48}}</ref> In the 1960s, two minor Cullinan diamonds owned by Louis Botha's heirs were analysed at the [[De Beers]] laboratory in Johannesburg and found to be completely free of [[nitrogen]] or any other impurities.<ref>Helme, p. 90.</ref> Cullinans I and II were examined in the 1980s by gemologists at the [[Tower of London]] and both graded as colourless [[Diamond type|type IIa]].<ref>Scarrat and Shor, pp. 126, 131.</ref>

===Cullinan I===
[[File:Cullinan major diamonds.jpg|thumb|300px|The nine major stones. Top: Cullinans II, I, and III. Bottom: Cullinans VIII, VI, IV, V, VII and IX.]]
Cullinan&nbsp;I, or the Great Star of Africa, is a [[pendeloque cut]] brilliant weighing {{convert|530.2|carat|g}} and has 74 facets.<ref name="dictionary">Manutchehr-Danai, p. 118.</ref> It is set at the top of the [[Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross]], made in 1661, which had to be redesigned in 1910 to accommodate it. Cullinan I was surpassed as the world's largest cut diamond by the {{convert|545.67|carat|g|adj=on}} brown [[Golden Jubilee Diamond]] in 1992<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Largest Cut Diamond in the World|journal=Gem & Jewellery News|date=December 1992|volume=2|number=1|page=1|issn=0964-6736}}</ref> which was surpassed in 2025 by the 612.24-carat [[Black Falcon (diamond)|Black falcon]]. The Cullinan I remains however the largest colourless cut diamond in the world.<ref>{{Royal Collection|31712|The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross}}</ref> In terms of clarity, it has a few tiny cleavages and a small patch of graining. The {{convert|5.89|x|4.54|×|2.77|cm|in|abbr=on}} diamond is fitted with loops and can be taken out of its setting to be worn as a pendant suspended from Cullinan&nbsp;II to make a [[brooch]].<ref name="scarratt128">Scarratt and Shor, p. 128.</ref> Queen Mary, wife of George V, often wore it like this.<ref>Mears, et al., p. 30.</ref> In 1908, the stone was valued at US$2.5&nbsp;million (equivalent to US${{Inflation|US-GDP|2.5|1908|fmt=c}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}}){{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}} – two and a half times the rough Cullinan's estimated value.<ref>Morgan, p. 262.</ref>

===Cullinan II===
Cullinan&nbsp;II, or the Second Star of Africa, is a cushion-cut brilliant with 66 facets weighing {{convert|317.4|carat|g}} set in the front of the [[Imperial State Crown]],<ref name="dictionary"/> below the [[Black Prince's Ruby]] (a large red [[spinel]]).<ref>{{Royal Collection|31701|The Imperial State Crown}}</ref> It measures {{convert|4.54|x|4.08|×|2.42|cm|in|abbr=on}}. The diamond has a number of tiny flaws, scratches on the table facet, and a small chip at the girdle. Like Cullinan I, it is held in place by a yellow gold enclosure, which is screwed onto the crown.<ref name="scarratt128"/>

===Cullinan III===
Cullinan&nbsp;III, or the Lesser Star of Africa, is pear-cut and weighs {{convert|94.4|carat|g}}.<ref name="dictionary"/> In 1911 Queen Mary, wife and [[queen consort]] of [[George&nbsp;V]], had it set in the top [[cross pattée]] of a crown that she personally bought for her coronation.<ref>Keay, p. 175.</ref> In 1912 the [[Elizabeth II's jewels#Delhi Durbar Tiara|Delhi Durbar Tiara]], worn the previous year by Mary instead of a crown at the [[Delhi Durbar#Durbar of 1911|Delhi Durbar]], where her husband wore the [[Imperial Crown of India]], was also adapted to take Cullinans III and IV.<ref name="royalcollection.org.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/exhibitions/diamonds-a-jubilee-celebration/delhi-durbar-tiara|title=Delhi Durbar Tiara|publisher=Royal Collection Trust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305070647/https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/exhibitions/diamonds-a-jubilee-celebration/delhi-durbar-tiara|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref> Elizabeth&nbsp;II frequently wore Cullinan III in combination with Cullinan&nbsp;IV as a brooch. In total, the brooch is {{convert|6.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|2.4|cm|in|abbr=on}} wide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/themes/exhibitions/diamonds-a-jubilee-celebration/buckingham-palace/cullinan-iii-and-iv-brooch|title=Cullinan III and IV Brooch|access-date=11 December 2017|publisher=Royal Collection Trust|archive-date=6 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206002120/https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/themes/exhibitions/diamonds-a-jubilee-celebration/buckingham-palace/cullinan-iii-and-iv-brooch|url-status=live}}</ref> Cullinan III has also been used as a pendant on the [[Elizabeth II's jewels#Coronation Necklace|Coronation Necklace]], where it occasionally replaced the {{convert|22.4|carat|g|adj=on}} Lahore Diamond.<ref name="rc1">{{cite web|url=https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/sites/default/files/null/diamonds_fact_sheet_1.pdf|title=The diamonds and their history|publisher=Royal Collection Trust|access-date=24 January 2016|archive-date=31 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131031944/https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/sites/default/files/null/diamonds_fact_sheet_1.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/sites/default/files/null/cullinan_diamond_fact_sheet_1.pdf|title=Jewellery made from the Cullinan Diamond|publisher=Royal Collection Trust|access-date=11 December 2017|archive-date=26 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026053456/https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/sites/default/files/null/cullinan_diamond_fact_sheet_1.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Cullinan IV===
[[File:1914 Queen Mary Autochrome.jpg|thumb|upright|Queen Mary wearing Cullinans I and II as a brooch, III as a pendant on the [[Elizabeth II's jewels#Coronation Necklace|Coronation Necklace]], and IV in the base of her crown, below the [[Koh-i-Noor]]]]
Cullinan&nbsp;IV, also referred to as a Lesser Star of Africa, is square-cut and weighs {{convert|63.6|carat|g}}.<ref name="dictionary"/> In 1911 it was first set in the base of [[Crown of Queen Camilla|Queen Mary's Crown]]. In 1914 both III and IV were replaced with crystal replicas, until 2023, when the diamonds were re-set in the crown for use by [[Queen Camilla]]. On 25 March 1958, while she and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]] were on a state visit to the [[Netherlands]], Queen Elizabeth&nbsp;II revealed that Cullinan&nbsp;III and&nbsp;IV are known in her family as "Granny's Chips". They visited the [[Royal Asscher Diamond Company|Asscher Diamond Company]], where Cullinan had been cut 50 years earlier. It was the first time the Queen had worn the brooch publicly. During her visit, she unpinned the brooch and offered it for examination to Louis Asscher, nephew of Joseph Asscher, who split the rough diamond. Aged 84, he was deeply moved that the Queen had brought the diamonds with her, knowing how much it would mean to him seeing them again after so many years.<ref>Mears, p. 150.</ref>

===Cullinan V===
Cullinan&nbsp;V is an {{convert|18.8|carat|g|adj=on}} heart-shaped diamond set in the centre of a platinum brooch that formed a part of the [[stomacher]] made for Queen Mary to wear at the Delhi Durbar in 1911. The brooch was designed to show off Cullinan V and is pavé-set with a border of smaller diamonds. It can be suspended from the VIII brooch and can be used to suspend the VII pendant. It was often worn like this by Mary.<ref name="rc1"/> In May 2023, the brooch was placed on the front of cross Queen Mary's Crown for [[coronation of Charles III and Camilla|the Coronation of Queen Camilla]] instead of the traditional and controversial [[Koh-i-Noor]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/feb/14/camilla-wear-queen-mary-crown-coronation|title=Camilla to wear recycled crown without Koh-i-Noor diamond at coronation|date=14 February 2023|website=The Guardian|author=Caroline Davies}}</ref>

===Cullinan VI===
Cullinan&nbsp;VI is marquise-cut and weighs {{convert|11.5|carat|g}}.<ref name="dictionary"/> It hangs from the brooch containing Cullinan&nbsp;VIII and forming part of the stomacher of the Delhi Durbar [[parure]]. Cullinan&nbsp;VI along with VIII can also be fitted together to make yet another brooch, surrounded by some 96 smaller diamonds. The design was created around the same time that the Cullinan&nbsp;V heart-shaped brooch was designed, both having a similar shape.<ref name="viviii">{{cite web|url=https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/themes/exhibitions/diamonds-a-jubilee-celebration/buckingham-palace/cullinan-vi-and-viii-brooch|title=Cullinan VI and VIII Brooch|access-date=11 December 2017|publisher=Royal Collection Trust|archive-date=15 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515101805/https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/themes/exhibitions/diamonds-a-jubilee-celebration/buckingham-palace/cullinan-vi-and-viii-brooch|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cullinan VII===
Cullinan&nbsp;VII is also marquise-cut and weighs {{convert|8.8|carat|g}}.<ref name="dictionary"/> It was originally given by Edward&nbsp;VII to his wife and consort Queen Alexandra. After his death she gave the jewel to Queen Mary, who had it set as a pendant hanging from the diamond-and-emerald Delhi Durbar necklace, part of the parure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/themes/exhibitions/diamonds-a-jubilee-celebration/buckingham-palace/delhi-durbar-necklace-and-cullinan-vii-pendant|title=Delhi Durbar Necklace and Cullinan VII Pendant|access-date=11 December 2017|publisher=Royal Collection Trust|archive-date=15 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515101145/https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/themes/exhibitions/diamonds-a-jubilee-celebration/buckingham-palace/delhi-durbar-necklace-and-cullinan-vii-pendant|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cullinan VIII===
Cullinan&nbsp;VIII is an oblong-cut diamond weighing {{convert|6.8|carat|g}}.<ref name="dictionary"/> It is set in the centre of a brooch forming part of the stomacher of the Delhi Durbar parure. Together with Cullinan&nbsp;VI it forms a brooch.<ref name="viviii"/>

===Cullinan IX===
Cullinan&nbsp;IX is smallest of the principal diamonds to be obtained from the rough Cullinan. It is a pendeloque or stepped pear-cut stone, weighs {{convert|4.39|carat|g}}, and is set in a platinum ring known as the Cullinan&nbsp;IX&nbsp;Ring.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/themes/exhibitions/diamonds-a-jubilee-celebration/buckingham-palace/cullinan-ix-ring|publisher=Royal Collection Trust|access-date=11 December 2017|title=Cullinan IX Ring|archive-date=15 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515094604/https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/themes/exhibitions/diamonds-a-jubilee-celebration/buckingham-palace/cullinan-ix-ring|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==

{{Portal|South Africa|Geology|Minerals}}
* [[List of diamonds]]
* [[List of largest rough diamonds]]
* [[Elizabeth II's jewels]]

== Citations ==
{{Reflist|25em}}

== General and cited references ==
{{refbegin|35em}}
* {{cite book |first=Ian |last=Balfour |title=Famous Diamonds |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ekzrAAAAMAAJ |year=2009 |publisher=Antique Collectors' Club |isbn=978-1-85149-479-8 }}
* {{cite book|first1=Pierre|last1=Bariand|first2=Michel|last2=Duchamp|title=The Larousse Encyclopedia of Precious Gems|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BogKAQAAMAAJ|year=1992|publisher=Van Nostrand Reinhold|isbn=978-0-442-30289-4}}
* {{cite book|first=Alan Patrick|last=Cartwright|title=Diamonds and Clay|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dEg0AQAAIAAJ|year=1977|publisher=Purnell|isbn=978-0-868-43017-1}}
* {{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/diamonds00croorich|title=Diamonds|first=William|last=Crookes|year=1909|publisher=Harper & Brothers|asin=B0114VJCD4}}
* {{cite book|first=Joan Y.|last=Dickinson|title=The Book of Diamonds|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=efe7AQAAQBAJ|year=2012|publisher=Courier|isbn=978-0-486-15682-8|access-date=30 September 2016|archive-date=1 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901183741/https://books.google.com/books?id=efe7AQAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|first=Leslie|last=Field|title=The Queen's Jewels|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4V44LAAACAAJ|year=1997|publisher=Harry N. Abrams|isbn=978-0-8109-8172-0}}
* {{cite journal|first=Boris|last=Gorelik|title=The Cullinan Diamond and its true story|journal=Jewellery History Today|year=2015|issue=Spring|pages=3–11|url=https://www.academia.edu/30914199|access-date=12 November 2019|archive-date=2 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002172637/https://www.academia.edu/30914199/The_Cullinan_Diamond_and_its_true_story|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|first=Matthew|last=Hart|title=Diamond: A Journey to the Heart of an Obsession|url=https://archive.org/details/diamondhistoryof0000hart|url-access=registration|year=2002|publisher=Plume Books|isbn=978-0-452-28370-1}}
* {{cite journal|first=F. H.|last=Hatch|title=A Description of the Big Diamond Recently Found in the Premier Mine, Transvaal|journal=Geological Magazine|volume=2|issue=4|publisher=Cambridge University Press|pages=170–172|date=April 1905|url=https://archive.org/details/geologicalmagaz02woodgoog|doi=10.1017/s001675680013198x|bibcode=1905GeoM....2..170H|s2cid=129350739}}
* {{cite book|first=Nigel|last=Helme|title=Thomas Major Cullinan: A Biography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AqwCAAAAMAAJ|year=1974|publisher=McGraw-Hill|isbn=978-0-07-091286-1|access-date=30 September 2016|archive-date=1 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901183745/https://books.google.com/books?id=AqwCAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|first=Anna|last=Keay|title=The Crown Jewels|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MwpjtwAACAAJ|year=2011|publisher=Thames & Hudson|isbn=978-0-500-51575-4|access-date=11 December 2017|archive-date=24 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224071704/https://books.google.com/books?id=MwpjtwAACAAJ|url-status=live}}
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{{refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite magazine |last=Shipley |first=Robert M. |date=Summer 1941 |title=The Cullinan or Star of Africa |url=https://www.gia.edu/doc/summer_1941.pdf |department=Important Diamonds of the World (column) |magazine=Gems & Gemology |volume=3 |issue=10 |pages=159–160, 150 |access-date=26 January 2023}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160317035134/https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/exhibitions/the-cullinan-diamond The Cullinan Diamond] at the Royal Collection Trust (archived)
* [http://www.capetowndiamondmuseum.org/about-diamonds/famous-diamonds/ Famous Diamonds] at Cape Town Diamond Museum

{{Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1905 in South Africa]]
[[Category:Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Diamonds originating in South Africa]]
[[Category:History of Pretoria]]
[[Category:Individual diamonds]]
[[Category:Transvaal]]