The Star of Africa Diamond: Unveiling Its History and Value

Dec 05, 2025 0

Diamonds have long been cherished as the ultimate symbol of luxury, romance, and status, captivating us with their unparalleled beauty, rarity, and value. Among the world’s most sought-after diamonds, a select few stand out for their extraordinary characteristics and astronomical prices.

Cullinan I (Great Star of Africa) and Cullinan II (Second Star of Africa)

The Cullinan Diamond is widely recognized as the largest diamond yet discovered, mined at the Cullinan Premier No. 2 mine in South Africa in 1905, where it was found 18 feet underground. Weighing in at an astonishing 621.350g or 3106.75 carats, it is the largest rough diamond to ever have been found.

Also known as the Star of Africa, the Cullinan Diamond started out as a 3,106.75-carat stone. The Cullinan diamond price is estimated at more than two billion US dollars.

Discovery and Initial Handling

January 26, 1905, was a lucky day indeed for Captain Frederick Wells, superintendent of Premier Mine in South Africa. He found the Cullinan diamond during his daily rounds, originally believing it to be a shard of glass embedded in the mine wall as a practical joke. After working to release the crystal from the mine wall with his pocket knife, he was astonished to discover that it was indeed a diamond.

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At the time it was found, the Cullinan diamond was two times the size of any diamond previously discovered. Its original weight was ascertained at 3,106.75 carats. To help you understand the scale of the uncut Cullinan, consider this: a second diamond from the original Cullinan find is Cullinan II, or the Second Star of Africa. At 317.4 carats, it is the fourth largest of all the polished diamonds in the world.

After its discovery, the massive diamond was named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, owner of the mine where it was found. It became a global sensation, and was purchased by the Transvaal Colony government. The original Cullinan diamond price was £150,000.

When the diamond was transported to the United Kingdom from South Africa, it was sent via parcel post in a plain box, however detectives brought a replica on a ship in order to act as a decoy.

Presentation to King Edward VII

Prime Minister Louis Botha suggested that the Transvaal Colony take the step of presenting the Cullinan diamond to King Edward VII as “a token of the loyalty and attachment of the people of Transvaal to his throne and person.” A vote was taken, with 42 cabinet members against the gift and 19 for. Winston Churchill, who would later become Prime Minister, persuaded the king to accept.

Because of the Cullinan diamond’s worth, detectives from London were placed on a steamboat that was rumored to carry it, and a parcel was ceremoniously secured in the Captain’s safe. This, however was a diversionary tactic and the stone on the steamboat was a fake one. The actual Cullinan diamond was entrusted to the postal service and shipped to London in a plain box.

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The Cullinan diamond was presented to King Edward VII on his birthday, in the presence of a number of guests including the Queen of Spain and the Queen of Norway. Lord Elgin, secretary of state at the time, announced that the king accepted the priceless gift “for myself and my successors”.

Cutting and Polishing Process

In 1908, the Asscher Brothers were appointed to cut and polish the diamond into a variety of different sized stones. A Royal Navy ship took a box supposedly containing the diamond across the North Sea, however, in reality this was another decoy to fool potential thieves. The actual stone was carried in Abraham Asscher’s coat pocket on a train and ferry on his way to Amsterdam where the stone was to be cut.

The entire process of cutting the diamond took 8 months of three people working 14 hour-long days. Joseph Asscher was the man who split the diamond in half on February 10th 1908, at his factory in Amsterdam. At this time, the process of splitting diamonds was extremely difficult as there was a real risk of totally shattering the stone.

The king chose 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. He returned to the Netherlands by train and ferry with the diamond in his coat pocket. Meanwhile, to much fanfare, a Royal Navy ship carried an empty box across the North Sea, again throwing off potential thieves. On 10 February 1908, the rough stone was split in half by Joseph Asscher at his diamond-cutting factory in Amsterdam. At the time, technology had not yet evolved to guarantee the quality of modern standards, and cutting the diamond was difficult and risky.

Joseph Asscher cutting the Cullinan diamond

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After weeks of planning, an incision 0.5 inches (13 mm) deep was made to enable Asscher to cleave the diamond in one blow.

Had the diamond been sold today in its original form, it is estimated that it would be worth over $2 billion USD.

The discovery and history of the Cullinan Diamond

The Cullinan Diamonds

Soon thereafter, the Cullinan Diamond size changed forever. The largest, most prestigious segment of the original stone is the Cullinan I diamond.

The most notable diamonds to have come from the cutting process are the Cullinan I (Great Star of Africa) and the Cullinan II (Second Star of Africa). The Great Star of Africa weighs 530.2 carats and it was incorporated onto the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross in 1910. The Second Star of Africa weighs 317.4 carats and is located on the Imperial State Crown. Therefore, a large majority of the original stone currently belongs to Queen Elizabeth II.

The 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 530.4 carats (106.08 g) it is the largest clear cut diamond in the world. The stone is mounted in the head of the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross. The second-largest is Cullinan II or the Second Star of Africa, weighing 317.4 carats (63.48 g), mounted in the Imperial State Crown. Both are part of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

Cullinan I, or the Great Star of Africa, is a pendeloque cut brilliant weighing 530.2 carats (106.04 g) and has 74 facets. 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 545.67-carat (109.134 g) brown Golden Jubilee Diamond in 1992, but remains the largest colourless cut diamond in the world.
Cullinan II, or the Second Star of Africa, is a cushion-cut brilliant with 66 facets weighing 317.4 carats (63.48 g) set in the front of the Imperial State Crown, below the Black Prince's Ruby (a large red spinel).
Cullinan III, or the Lesser Star of Africa, is pear-cut and weighs 94.4 carats (18.88 g). In 1911 Queen Mary, wife and queen consort of George V, had it set in the top cross pattée of a crown that she personally bought for her coronation.
Cullinan IV, also referred to as a Lesser Star of Africa, is square-cut and weighs 63.6 carats (12.72 g). In 1911 it was first set in the base of Queen Mary's Crown.
Cullinan V is an 18.8-carat (3.76 g) 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.
Cullinan VI is marquise-cut and weighs 11.5 carats (2.30 g). It hangs from the brooch containing Cullinan VIII and forming part of the stomacher of the Delhi Durbar parure.
Cullinan VII is also marquise-cut and weighs 8.8 carats (1.76 g). It was originally given by Edward VII to his wife and consort Queen Alexandra.
Cullinan VIII is an oblong-cut diamond weighing 6.8 carats (1.36 g). It is set in the centre of a brooch forming part of the stomacher of the Delhi Durbar parure.
Cullinan IX is smallest of the principal diamonds to be obtained from the rough Cullinan.

The largest, most prestigious segment of the original stone is the Cullinan I diamond. The 530.2 carat, pear-cut stone is also known as the Great Star of Africa. It was set in the head of the British Sceptre with the Cross, but it is configured so that it may be removed and hung as a pendant, either on its own or from the Cullinan II diamond in a brooch.

The second-largest segment of the original stone is Cullinan II, also known as the Second Star of Africa. Cullinan III and Cullinan IV are together known as the Lesser Stars of Africa.

The Cullinan III diamond is a 94.4-carat pear-cut stone that was originally set in the coronation crown made for Queen Mary, consort of King George V. Cullinan IV is a square cushion-cut diamond that weighs in at a still astonishing 63.6 carats. It was originally part of Queen Mary’s coronation crown as well.

Much smaller than its sister diamonds, the Cullinan V is still astounding at 18.8 carats. Heart-shaped, and set at the center of a brooch with smaller stones surrounding it, it was often worn by Queen Mary in combination with Cullinan diamonds VI and VII.

Coming in at 8.8 carats, the Cullinan VI diamond is one you might find in a celebrity engagement ring - that is, if it weren’t an important part of the British Crown Jewels! This marquise cut diamond hangs from the brooch that contains Cullinan VIII.

Cullinan VII is marquise cut, but a bit larger at 11.5 carats. King Edward VII originally gave this stone to Queen Alexandra. She gave it to Queen Mary after his death.

Coming in at 6.8 carats, Cullinan VIII is a gorgeous cushion-cut diamond that sits at the center of a brooch that Queen Elizabeth II inherited in 1953.

The ninth Cullinan diamond is a pear-cut stone weighing 4.4 carats.

The Cullinan Diamonds are now part of the British Crown Jewels.

The Magnificent Seven: Earth’s Most Valuable Diamonds

Diamonds have long been cherished as the ultimate symbol of luxury, romance, and status. These scintillating gemstones are renowned for their unparalleled beauty, rarity, and value. Among the world’s most sought-after diamonds, a select few stand out for their extraordinary characteristics and astronomical prices. So here are the magnificent 7: earth’s most valuable diamonds.

The Koh-i-Noor Diamond - Priceless While not for sale and therefore without a precise valuation, the Koh-i-Noor diamond is arguably the most famous diamond in the world. Weighing 105.6 carats, this diamond is part of the British Crown Jewels. Its name means “Mountain of Light” in Persian, and its history spans centuries, passing through the hands of various Indian and Persian rulers before coming into British possession. Legend has it that the Koh-i-Noor was first mentioned over 5,000 years ago in a Sanskrit script, where it was called the Syamantaka gem. Its journey through time is marked by bloody conflicts and power struggles, making it not just a gem, but a symbol of imperial might and colonial legacy.
The Cullinan Diamond - Over $400 Million The Cullinan, discovered in 1905, is the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever found, weighing an incredible 3,106.75 carats. While the original stone was cut into several smaller diamonds, the largest of these, the Cullinan I or “Great Star of Africa” (530.2 carats), is estimated to be worth over $400 million. The discovery of this massive gem was so unexpected that Frederick Wells, the mine’s superintendent, initially thought it was a piece of glass placed as a prank. The cutting of the Cullinan was entrusted to Joseph Asscher, who reportedly fainted after successfully cleaving the stone on his first attempt, such was the pressure of the task.
The Hope Diamond - $350 Million Famed for its rare blue color and alleged curse, the Hope Diamond is a 45.52-carat deep-blue diamond. With its striking blue color and storied history, the 45.52 carat Hope Diamond is valued at approximately $350 million. The Hope Diamond’s history is as colorful as its appearance, with owners including King Louis XIV of France and wealthy American heiress Evalyn Walsh McLean.Its alleged curse has only added to its mystique, with tales of misfortune befalling its owners. Today, it resides in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, where it continues to captivate millions of visitors annually with its beauty and lore.
The Centenary Diamond - $100 Million Unveiled in 1991 to celebrate De Beers’ centennial, this flawless D-color diamond weighs 273.85 carats and is valued at approximately $100 million. The Centenary Diamond is remarkable for its perfect external and internal symmetry, making it one of the most spectacular diamonds ever certified by the Gemological Institute of America. The cutting process was so delicate that a special underground room, free from vibrations, was built for the task. The diamond’s current whereabouts are unknown, adding an air of mystery to this already fascinating gem.
The Pink Star Diamond - $71.5 Million Sold at auction in 2017 for $71.2 million, the Pink Star Diamond holds the record for the most expensive diamond ever sold. Its color is so pure and vivid that the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) ranks it in a class of its own.
The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond - $80 Million This 31.06-carat deep-blue diamond has a history dating back to the 17th century. It was recut in 2010 by renowned jeweler Laurence Graff, improving its clarity and brilliance. The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond was last sold for $80 million, making it one of the most expensive diamonds in the world.Originally part of the dowry of Infanta Margarita Teresa of Spain upon her engagement to Emperor Leopold I of Austria in 1664, this diamond has witnessed centuries of European royal history.
The Oppenheimer Blue Diamond - $57.5 Million Sold in 2016 for $57.5 million, the Oppenheimer Blue is the largest and finest fancy vivid blue diamond ever offered at an auction. Weighing 14.62 carats, this exceptional stone is named after its previous owner, Sir Philip Oppenheimer, whose family once controlled the De Beers mining company. Its vivid blue color is so rare that it places the Oppenheimer Blue in the top 1% of all blue diamonds in terms of color quality.