THE BIGGEST DIAMOND EVER FOUND ON EARTH

The biggest diamond ever found on earth is the Cullinan Diamond, also known as the Star of Africa.

It was discovered in the Premier Mine near Pretoria, South Africa, in 1905 by Frederick Wells, who was the superintendent of the mine at the time. The Cullinan Diamond is one of the most famous diamonds in the world and is considered to be one of the greatest discoveries in the history of diamond mining.

The Cullinan Diamond is a Type IIa diamond, which is the purest form of diamond and has no nitrogen or other impurities in its crystal structure. It weighs a staggering 3,106 carats, or 621.2 grams, and is the largest rough diamond ever found. The diamond was named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, who owned the Premier Mine at the time of its discovery.

The rough diamond was sent to the Asscher Diamond Company in Amsterdam, where it was studied and cut into several pieces. The largest piece, which weighed 530.2 carats, was named the Great Star of Africa and is the largest clear cut diamond in the world. The second largest piece, weighing 317.4 carats, was named the Lesser Star of Africa. Both of these diamonds were eventually cut and polished and now reside in the British Crown Jewels, where they are on display in the Tower of London.

Cutting the Cullinan Diamond was no easy feat, and it took eight months to plan and execute the process. Joseph Asscher and his team of diamond cutters were tasked with cutting the diamond, and they used a newly designed steam-powered diamond saw to do so. The process was incredibly risky, as one wrong move could shatter the diamond into thousands of pieces. However, the team managed to successfully cut the diamond into several pieces without any mishaps.

The Cullinan Diamond has a fascinating history and has been involved in several notable events. During World War I, the Great Star of Africa was taken to England by King Edward VII and was used to promote patriotism and raise morale. It was then returned to the Tower of London, where it has remained ever since. In 1958, the Lesser Star of Africa was also taken to England, where it was set into the Imperial State Crown for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

The discovery of the Cullinan Diamond was a significant event in the history of diamond mining, and it continues to captivate people around the world today. Its size and purity are truly remarkable, and it serves as a testament to the beauty and rarity of diamonds. Despite being cut into several pieces, the Cullinan Diamond remains one of the most valuable and sought-after diamonds in the world.

And if you want to see more BIG diamonds for sale right now, check out these very large loose stones at James Allen and Blue Nile.

Cheers! :)