Quote:
Originally Posted by orlok
I know some of this, having grown up for part of my childhood in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The rough diamond was about 3100 carats, and the polished gem was about 500 carats. May not be within the requisite nearest 10 though...
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In fact, you were only off by 6.7 carats! That's close enough!
The Cullinan diamond is the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever found, at 3,106.75 carats (621.35 g).[1]
The largest polished gem from the stone is named Cullinan I or the Great Star of Africa, and at 530.4 carats (106.1 g)[2] was the largest polished diamond in the world until the 1985 discovery of the Golden Jubilee Diamond, 545.67 carats (109.13 g), also from the Premier Mine. Cullinan I is now mounted in the head of the Sceptre with the Cross. The second largest gem from the Cullinan stone, Cullinan II or the Lesser Star of Africa, at 317.4 carats (63.5 g), is the fourth largest polished diamond in the world. Both gems are in the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.
Take it away, Orlok!
Stitchawl