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N0KFQ > TODAY 26.01.15 17:47l 48 Lines 2123 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 45611_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Jan 25
Path: IZ3LSV<I0OJJ<N6RME<N0KFQ
Sent: 150125/1600Z 45611@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.62
Jan 25, 1905:
World's largest diamond found
On January 25, 1905, at the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South
Africa, a 3,106-carat diamond is discovered during a routine
inspection by the mine's superintendent. Weighing 1.33 pounds,
and christened the "Cullinan," it was the largest diamond ever
found.
Frederick Wells was 18 feet below the earth's surface when he
spotted a flash of starlight embedded in the wall just above him.
His discovery was presented that same afternoon to Sir Thomas
Cullinan, who owned the mine. Cullinan then sold the diamond to
the Transvaal provincial government, which presented the stone to
Britain's King Edward VII as a birthday gift. Worried that the
diamond might be stolen in transit from Africa to London, Edward
arranged to send a phony diamond aboard a steamer ship loaded
with detectives as a diversionary tactic. While the decoy slowly
made its way from Africa on the ship, the Cullinan was sent to
England in a plain box.
Edward entrusted the cutting of the Cullinan to Joseph Asscher,
head of the Asscher Diamond Company of Amsterdam. Asscher, who
had cut the famous Excelsior Diamond, a 971-carat diamond found
in 1893, studied the stone for six months before attempting the
cut. On his first attempt, the steel blade broke, with no effect
on the diamond. On the second attempt, the diamond shattered
exactly as planned; Asscher then fainted from nervous exhaustion.
The Cullinan was later cut into nine large stones and about 100
smaller ones, valued at millions of dollars all told. The largest
stone is called the "Star of Africa I," or "Cullinan I," and at
530 carats, it is the largest-cut fine-quality colorless diamond
in the world. The second largest stone, the "Star of Africa II"
or "Cullinan II," is 317 carats. Both of these stones, as well as
the "Cullinan III," are on display in the Tower of London with
Britain's other crown jewels; the Cullinan I is mounted in the
British Sovereign's Royal Scepter, while the Cullinan II sits in
the Imperial State Crown.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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