The Cullinan Diamond Discovery Changes History Forever

# January 26, 1905: The Cullinan Diamond is Discovered

On January 26, 1905, Frederick Wells, the surface manager of the Premier Mine in South Africa, was making his routine inspection rounds when something extraordinary caught his eye. Protruding from the mine wall, about 18 feet below the surface, was a glint that would turn out to be the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered.

At first, Wells couldn't believe what he was seeing. The crystal was so enormous—roughly the size of a human fist—that he initially thought it might be a large piece of glass someone had planted as a practical joke. But this was no joke. What Wells had stumbled upon was a colossal 3,106.75-carat diamond, later named the Cullinan Diamond after Sir Thomas Cullinan, the mine's owner.

To put this in perspective, imagine holding three-quarters of a pound of pure crystallized carbon in your hand. The diamond measured approximately 10 cm long, 6.5 cm wide, and 5 cm deep. It was so large that experts believed it was actually a fragment of an even larger crystal that had broken apart—a theory supported by the stone having one notably smooth, flat side, as if it had been cleaved from something even more massive. Geologists have fantasized for over a century about the other half of this crystal, which has never been found.

The discovery sparked immediate sensation. The Transvaal Colony government purchased the diamond for £150,000 (roughly equivalent to $20 million today) and presented it to King Edward VII of Britain as a birthday gift in 1907. But there was one significant problem: how do you transport the world's most valuable object across 6,000 miles of ocean without it being stolen?

The solution was brilliantly deceptive. While a decoy package traveled to England on a steamship under heavy guard—complete with armed detectives and deliberate publicity—the real Cullinan traveled via registered parcel post in a plain box. The audacious simplicity worked perfectly.

Once in London, the question became: what do you do with such a monster? The legendary Amsterdam diamond cutter Joseph Asscher was chosen for the monumental task of cleaving the stone. Before making the first cut, Asscher studied the diamond for months, examining every flaw and inclusion. On February 10, 1908, with doctors standing by (in case he fainted from the pressure), Asscher placed his specially designed cleaver blade against the marked line and struck it with a steel rod. The blade broke. On the second attempt, the diamond split perfectly along the cleavage plane. According to legend, Asscher then promptly fainted—though this story may be apocryphal.

The Cullinan was ultimately cut into nine major stones and 96 smaller brilliants. The two largest pieces became the Great Star of Africa (530.2 carats), now mounted in the British Royal Sceptre, and the Second Star of Africa (317.4 carats), set in the Imperial State Crown. These remain among the most famous diamonds in existence, on display in the Tower of London as part of the Crown Jewels.

The discovery of the Cullinan Diamond represented more than just finding a big rock—it was a geological marvel that pushed our understanding of how diamonds form under extreme pressure and heat deep within Earth's mantle. It sparked scientific discussions about diamond crystallization that continue today, and raised questions about mega-crystals that still intrigue mineralogists.

So on this date in 1905, one man's routine inspection turned into a moment that would literally crown the British monarchy with unprecedented brilliance.


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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI