How the Largest Diamond Ever Found Ended Up in the British Crown Jewels
Garry Holloway, FGAA, DipDT, gemologist and jewellery expert — and author of How to Select the Best Diamonds: Insider Secrets — joins Suzanne Hill on ABC Radio’s Nightlife in the latest episode: “How the largest diamond ever found ended up in the British Crown Jewels.”
In this 25-minute segment, Holloway uncovers the remarkable backstory of the Cullinan Diamond — the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered.
- Unearthed in 1905 at South Africa’s Premier Mine, the rough Cullinan weighed a staggering 3,106 carats before being carved into nine major gems by Asscher & Co. in Amsterdam, including the famed Cullinan I (530.4 ct) and Cullinan II (317.4 ct)
- The Transvaal government purchased the rough gem in 1907 as a gift for King Edward VII, symbolising loyalty to the British Crown.
- Listen as Holloway and Hill explore why the enormous diamond was presented to the Crown — and how it came to be timeless symbols of royal splendour.
🎧 Listen now: How the largest diamond ever found ended up in the British Crown Jewels on ABC Nightlife
🎓 Want to Learn More About Diamonds?
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