Discovered in its rough state at an astonishing 3,106 carats, the Cullinan diamond was more than just a gemstone; it was a geological marvel, a diamond of unparalleled size and exceptional quality, quite literally the size of a human heart. Its emergence sent tremors of excitement and curiosity across the globe. The world buzzed with questions: Where would such a treasure be housed? Would it remain in its colossal natural form, or would it be expertly cut to reveal its inner brilliance? And if the latter, who would be deemed worthy to adorn themselves with such magnificent jewels?
The answers to these global ponderings began to unfold in 1907. The government of South Africa’s Transvaal Colony, recognizing the diamond’s immense significance, purchased the Cullinan. It was then presented as a gift to King Edward VII of Great Britain, a gesture to mark his birthday and to commemorate five years of peace between the two nations following the end of the Second Boer War in 1902. This act marked the true commencement of the Cullinan’s remarkable journey into history.
The first step in this journey was transporting the diamond from the depths of the African continent to London, the heart of the British monarchy in Europe. With the international press keenly following every development, the colonial government orchestrated an elaborate decoy operation. A heavily armed convoy of guards and military personnel was ostentatiously arranged to create the illusion of a high-security transport of the Cullinan to the British capital. However, in a surprising twist of subterfuge, the colossal diamond was discreetly placed in an ordinary parcel and simply mailed to the London office of a mining associate!
Upon the Cullinan’s inconspicuous arrival in London, King Edward VII sought the expertise of Joseph Asscher, renowned for his diamond cutting prowess, to determine the fate of this extraordinary gem. While King Edward initially leaned towards preserving the Cullinan in its uncut form, Asscher passionately advocated for it to be cut and polished, personally assuring the King that he would meticulously oversee every stage of the intricate process. Eventually persuaded, King Edward not only entrusted Joseph Asscher with cutting the stone but also declared that this monumental task was to be undertaken for the British Crown and the Royal Family’s esteemed jewelry collection. This royal decree undoubtedly added considerable weight and pressure to the already daunting endeavor.
To undertake the complex task of cutting the Cullinan, another journey was required – this time to Amsterdam, then the undisputed epicenter of the diamond cutting and polishing industry. Mirroring its voyage from South Africa, the Cullinan’s travel to Amsterdam involved another clever deception. Amidst considerable fanfare and public attention, a sealed box, purportedly containing the Cullinan, was loaded onto a Royal Navy vessel, which then ceremoniously set sail across the North Sea towards The Netherlands. Unbeknownst to the watching world, the sealed box was completely empty.
Abraham Asscher discreetly transporting the Cullinan diamond to Amsterdam in his coat pocket, showcasing the surprising simplicity of securing the world’s largest gem.
Meanwhile, Joseph’s brother, Abraham Asscher, embarked on a separate passenger ship bound for Amsterdam. He carried no luggage, only a heavy coat to ward off the sea chill. Concealed within a specially adapted deep pocket of Abraham’s coat lay the reason for this clandestine journey – the human heart-sized, uncut Cullinan diamond, the subject of global fascination.
Abraham Asscher and the priceless Cullinan arrived safely at Tolstraat 127, Amsterdam, the headquarters and cutting factory of the Asscher Diamond Company. The Asscher family, acknowledging the intense public interest, immediately invited the press to photograph the magnificent uncut marvel, temporarily satisfying the incessant demands for information about the diamond’s whereabouts. However, managing the press was a minor concern compared to the immense challenge the family faced: planning the most intricate and high-stakes diamond-cutting operation in their company’s history, and indeed, in the history of diamond cutting itself.
Asscher Diamond Company’s meticulous calculations indicated that the Cullinan could be cleaved into two substantial pieces, and subsequently yield a constellation of smaller, yet still significant, stones. However, anyone familiar with the delicate and unforgiving art of diamond cutting understands the inherent risk. A minuscule miscalculation, a fraction of a millimeter off, could result in the irreplaceable Cullinan shattering into worthless fragments. Joseph Asscher, acutely aware of this precariousness, commissioned the creation of entirely new, custom-designed tools, recognizing that a diamond of the Cullinan’s unprecedented size demanded equipment beyond the standard tools of the trade. Once these specialized tools were prepared, he commenced the painstaking work, dedicating the entire following month to meticulously creating an incision, a mere centimeter deep, on the diamond’s surface. By the 10th of February, 1908, Joseph Asscher deemed himself ready to attempt the momentous cleavage of the world’s largest rough diamond.
On the anticipated day, press representatives, official notaries, and a throng of invited spectators filled Asscher’s atelier, eager to witness history unfold – either the triumphant splitting of the world’s greatest uncut diamond by the world’s greatest diamond cutter, or a catastrophic failure resulting in its irreparable fragmentation.
The pressure on Joseph Asscher was immeasurable as the decisive moment arrived to strike the splitting knife, precisely positioned within the carefully crafted two-centimeter incision on the Cullinan’s surface. With unwavering resolve, he brought a hammer down on the knife and the diamond with an almighty blow. A sharp, cracking sound reverberated through the room. But it was not the sound of diamond yielding. To everyone’s astonishment, the knife in Joseph Asscher’s hand had shattered, while the world’s largest uncut diamond remained stubbornly intact, reaffirming its legendary reputation as the hardest material on Earth.
The force of the blow propelled Joseph Asscher backward, a dramatic scene witnessed by the assembled onlookers. From this moment, a myth began to circulate, suggesting that the Cullinan’s indomitable strength had overwhelmed even the greatest diamond cutter of the age, rendering him unconscious upon his initial defeat. Years later, when Joseph’s nephew, Louis Asscher, was questioned about this dramatic account, he playfully dismissed it, exclaiming, “No! Asscher would ever faint over an operation on a diamond. Though perhaps the champagne got to Uncle Joe on the day he successfully cleaved it.”
Undeterred by the setback, Joseph Asscher returned to his workbench four days after the initial attempt, armed with newly forged, more robust tools. Equipped with larger knives, heavier blades, and in the presence of only a singular public notary, and absent the thronging press, the second attempt to cleave the Cullinan commenced. With a new knife firmly set in the groove, Joseph struck it decisively. This time, the remarkable, resolute Cullinan yielded, splitting cleanly into two.
From this initial division, Asscher successfully executed his plan to create nine principal stones, destined to become integral components of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. In addition to these significant stones, ninety-six smaller diamonds were also cut, which were retained by the Asscher family as their compensation for undertaking the monumental cutting of the Cullinan.
The largest of these cleaved stones – now eternally known as Cullinan I – was entrusted to Henri Koe, a highly respected 20-year veteran of the Royal Asscher Diamond Company and its Chief Polisher. On the 2nd of March 1908, Koe embarked on the meticulous task of polishing Cullinan I, a process that would consume the next six months of dedicated work. By May of the following year, Koe, joined by four additional expert polishers, commenced work on the second largest diamond, Cullinan II, with each polisher working tirelessly for fourteen hours each day. By November, Cullinan II was finally completed and ready to be presented to King Edward VII. Upon beholding the dazzling gems, King Edward VII immediately christened them the Great Star of Africa (Cullinan I) and the Smaller Star of Africa (Cullinan II). The monarch decreed that the Great Star of Africa would be set in the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross, while the Smaller Star of Africa would take its place of prominence in the Imperial State Crown itself.
The Cullinan I, also known as the Great Star of Africa, and Cullinan II, the Smaller Star of Africa, showcase the magnificent results of the masterful cutting of the original Cullinan diamond.
The Final Cullinan Suite:
Cullinan I: Referred to as the ‘Great Star of Africa’, this is the largest of all the diamonds cut from the original Cullinan. It boasts an impressive weight of 530.2 carats and is expertly cut with 74 facets. As a tribute to this magnificent stone, all four of the Royal Asscher Diamonds signature diamond cuts now feature 74 facets.
Cullinan II: The ‘Smaller Star of Africa’ holds a position of immense prestige at the very front and center of Great Britain’s Imperial State Crown. It is set alongside a breathtaking array of other famous gemstones, including the Stuart Sapphire, St. Edward’s Sapphire, the Black Prince’s Ruby, and is further embellished with 2,868 additional brilliant-cut diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and 269 pearls.
Cullinan III: While perhaps not as widely recognized as Cullinan I and II, Cullinan III possesses its own unique and fascinating history. This pear-cut diamond weighs 94.4 carats (18.88 grams) and is rumored to have been Queen Mary’s personal favorite within the collection. Demonstrating her inventive approach to jewelry, Queen Mary initially had Cullinan III and IV set within her coronation crown and later in the Delhi Durbar tiara. Today, this remarkable diamond graces a brooch worn by Queen Elizabeth II, often paired with Cullinan IV. During a state visit to the Netherlands in 1958, Queen Elizabeth II made a point of visiting Tolstraat 127 to meet with Louis Asscher, brother of Joseph Asscher. During their meeting, in a touching gesture, Her Majesty presented the Cullinan III and IV to Mr. Asscher, saying, “Here, Mr. Asscher, you can take them in your hands. You held them in your hands before!” Despite his failing eyesight, Louis Asscher instantly recognized the legendary diamonds upon holding them and was deeply moved by the Monarch’s graciousness.
Cullinan IV: A square-cut diamond weighing 63.6 carats (12.72 grams), Cullinan IV shares a place in Queen Mary’s private collection alongside its sister diamond, Cullinan III. Queen Mary affectionately referred to these two diamonds as “Granny’s chips.”
Cullinan V: An exceptionally romantic heart-shaped diamond, Cullinan V weighs 18.8 carats (3.76 grams) and is set within a platinum and diamond brooch, also belonging to Queen Mary. This brooch, specifically designed to showcase the unusual heart shape of the diamond, has become a favored piece of Queen Elizabeth II since she inherited it from Queen Mary in 1953.
Cullinan VI: The Cullinan VI is a marquise-cut diamond of 11.5 carats. Typically worn in conjunction with Cullinan VII, Cullinan VI is seen in public far less frequently than the Cullinan V brooch, making its occasional appearances all the more noteworthy.
Cullinan VII: Similar to Cullinan VI, Cullinan VII is also a marquise-cut diamond, weighing 8.8 carats. It is set as a pendant, alongside nine emeralds, on the magnificent Delhi Durbar necklace, originally created for Queen Mary for the Court of Delhi. The Duchess of Cambridge is known to have worn this exquisite piece.
Cullinan VIII: Britain’s esteemed Crown Jeweler, House of Garrad, was given the honor of setting Cullinan VIII, an emerald-cut diamond weighing 6.8 carats (1.36 grams). Set in platinum, Cullinan VIII was designed to function both as a brooch, worn alongside Cullinan VII, and as a stomacher, forming part of the Delhi Durbar parure.
Cullinan IX: Last, but certainly not least, Cullinan IX is a pendeloque, or ‘stepped pear-cut’ stone, weighing 4.39 carats. It is set in a platinum ring, crafted by House of Garrard in 1911. The Cullinan diamond, from its discovery to its division into these nine principal stones and numerous smaller gems, remains a testament to nature’s grandeur and human artistry, forever embedded in history and the dazzling spectacle of the British Crown Jewels.
