There are many famous large diamonds and recently they have unearthed more very large and impressive stones; however there is but one that stands out ahead of the class.

The Cullinan diamond is perhaps the most famous of all diamonds ever discovered. It was found in South Africa in 1905 at the Premier Mine, South Africa.  The Cullinan Diamond was named for the owner of the mine, Thomas Cullinan.  It weighed in at as a massive 3,106 carats in its uncut state.  The diamond, still rough and uncut, was presented to King Edward the VII by the Transvaal government on his 66th birthday in 1907.

The Great Star of Africa or Cullinan I



The Lesser Star of Africa or Cullinan II

 

Today, the 3,106 carat Cullinan Diamond rough has been cut into smaller stones.  The one-of-a-kind rough was cut into nine large stones (Cullinan I through IX), 96 smaller stones and around 10 carats of tinier pieces.  The largest diamond is called the Great Star of Africa or Cullinan I weighing in at 530.20 carats and is mounted in the Royal Scepter. The second diamond is called the Lesser Star of Africa or Cullinan II and weighs 317.40 carats is mounted in the Imperial State Crown.

 

The nine rough diamonds (Cullinan's I - IX)
with combined weight of a little more than 1,050.00 carats