The Cullinan Diamond: A Contested Legacy in the Crown Jewels

The Cullinan Diamond: A Contested Legacy in the Crown Jewels

​The Cullinan Diamond, often referred to as the Star of Africa, is one of the world’s most famous and consequential gemstones. Its immense size and beauty are matched only by the controversy surrounding its acquisition and its current place in the British Crown Jewels.

​Discovery and Naming

​The massive gem-quality diamond was discovered in Pretoria, South Africa, on January 26, 1905, at the Premier No. 2 mine. Weighing a colossal 3,106 carats in its rough state, it remains the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found.

​Though initially nicknamed the “Star of Africa,” the stone was later formally named the Cullinan Diamond after Sir Thomas Cullinan, the chairman who owned the mine.

​The Journey to Britain

​The movement of large diamonds and valuable minerals from South Africa to the United Kingdom was a common practice during the colonial era. The Cullinan Diamond’s journey was officially presented as a diplomatic gesture.

​In 1907, the diamond was transported to Britain and formally presented to King Edward VII as a gift. The official British account claimed it was a symbol of friendship and peace, intended to help heal the rift between the British and Dutch colonists who had recently fought in the Second Boer War (South African War). However, critics argue this transfer represented the extraction of wealth from a colonized territory.

​Transformation and Division

​Due to its immense size and delicate structure, cutting the Cullinan Diamond was a monumental task. The rough stone was shipped to Amsterdam, a global center for diamond cutting, in 1908.

​The original stone was successfully cut and polished into nine principal stones (numbered Cullinan I through IX) and 96 smaller pieces. The largest of these is the Cullinan I, weighing 530.2 carats.

• ​Cullinan I (The Great Star of Africa) is set into the Sovereign’s Sceptre.

• ​Cullinan II is prominently featured in the Imperial State Crown.

• ​The remaining major stones and smaller fragments became part of the extensive Royal Collection.

​The Call for Repatriation

​Today, the Cullinan pieces remain a celebrated part of the British Crown Jewels. While officially valued at approximately USD $400 million (or R6 billion), the historical and cultural value to South Africa is considered immeasurable.

​Since its acquisition during the period of colonial rule, the diamond’s continued presence in the United Kingdom has sparked significant debate. Many South Africans and activists worldwide view the gem as having been unjustly taken from Africa during a time when the territory lacked full sovereignty. There are ongoing calls for its repatriation to South Africa as a symbol of historical justice and reclamation of national wealth.