The deposits of South Africa

 

TIFFANY - 1878 - Kimberley Mine - South Africa - 128.51 Ct

 

The rough diamond weighted 287 cts. Purchased by the jeweller Tiffany of New York (from whom it gets its name) was cut in Paris with 90 facets.

 

EXCELSIOR - 1893 - Jagersfontein Mine - South Africa - 995,20 Ct

 

The rough diamond weighted 995 cts. Before discovering the Cullinan diamond, the Excelsior Diamond was the larger stone known. It was found in 1893 in the Jagersfontein mine and it weighted 995.20 carats. Colourless, of a blue-white tint, it was cut in Amsterdam by Asscher company into different stones, the largest of whom weighed 69.68 carats. The Excelsior stones, according to some experts, belonged to the British Crown Jewels too.

 

JUBILEE - 1893 - Jagersfontein Mine - South Africa - 650,80 Ct

 

The rough diamond weighted 650.8 cts: at first it was called Reilz Diamond, after the then President of the Orange Free State, later it was named Jubilee Diamond, because it was a reminder of Queen Victoria’s 16^th anniversary of head of the England’s kingdom. From the original stone it were created two brilliants, the largest of whom weighted 245.35 carats. It was exhibited in Paris in 1900. Facets of this diamond are so perfect and their shape so regular that if placed on a tip it maintains a perfect equilibrium.

 

CULLINAN - 1905 - Premier Mine - South Africa - 3160 Ct

 

Also called "The Star of Africa", it was discovered in Transvaal, near Pretoria on January 25 1905. In the Premier Mine it was found a stone thrusting out from the ground; it was a rough diamond of 600 grams, 3.106 carats. Who studied it the first proved that it was a fragment of a crystal larger more than the double. It has been named after the then President of the mine company. The government of Transvaal purchased the diamond and gave it as a present in November 1907 to the King of England, Edward VII. The stone was divided into two parts obtaining: two large brilliants, Cullinan I of 530.20 carats and Cullinan II of 317.40 carats, a drop shaped brilliant of 94.45 carats, a rectangular brilliant of 63.65 carats (Cullinam IV) and other 101 brilliants of different shapes and weights. All brilliants coming from Cullinan belong to the British Crown Jewels, preserved and visible in the Tower of London.  Cullinan I  and Cullinan II [South  Africa - 1980/1 - South  Africa - 1980/2], which are the largest diamonds in the world, are respectively on the sceptre and on the crown of the kings of England.

 

LESOTHO - 1968 - Lesotho - 601,00 Ct

 

In May 1968 a black lady while sieving mine materials found one of the biggest diamonds of the world, a stone resembling a chicken egg that weighted 601 cts. Her husband, a man called Ramaboa, had the right to exploit the soil and sold it for the respectable amount of 302,400 dollars. The diamond was later bought for 605,000 dollars by the jeweller Harry Winston (New York) who still preserves it uncut.

 

STAR OF SIERRA LEONE - 1968 - Sierra Leone - 968,00 Ct

 

The rough diamond weighted 968 cts [Sierra Leone - 1970]

 

LAST ONE - 2004 - Sierra Leone - 750,00 Ct

 

Authorities of Sierra Leone reported that a rough diamond of a weight of 750 cts has been found. It is the seventh largest diamond of all times.