The two largest pieces of
the Cullinan Diamond became the two that fulfilled King Edward VII’s promise to include the stone in the Crown Jewels. He also gave them their nickname, the Stars of Africa.
Cullinan I, the First or Greater Star of Africa
The largest diamond is Cullinan I. Weighing in at 530.2 carats, it measures 2 1/8” long, 1 ¾” wide, and 1” thick at its deepest part. It was cut and polished by Asscher's into a pear shape with 76 facets, and is the largest colorless cut diamond in the world.
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| Cullinan II, the Second or Lesser Star of Africa |
The second largest cutting is Cullinan II, a cushion-shaped 317.4 carat diamond.
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| Cullinans I & II with a 1 carat diamond |
The first setting of the stones was a temporary one – one giant brooch in which Cullinan I was suspended from Cullinan II. You can see the loops used to create the brooch above.
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| Queen Mary with the Stars in brooch form (left and center), and suspending the First Star from the Koh-i-Noor brooch (right) |
Reportedly, Queen Alexandra wore both plus
the Koh-i-Noor on at least one occasion; Queen Mary used the brooch setting (with other smaller Cullinans worn elsewhere), and even suspended Cullinan I from the Koh-i-Noor brooch.
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| Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross, set with Cullinan I |
After Edward VII’s death in 1910, Garrard was asked to incorporate them into
the existing Crown regalia. The Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross was modified to hold Cullinan I at the top. The sceptre originally had an enamel fleur de lys at the top which was removed but echoed with the scrolls of gold and enamel that now hold the Great Star.
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| Imperial State Crown, set with Cullinan II |
Cullinan II was set in the band of the Imperial State Crown. The famous Stuart Sapphire was moved to the back of the crown so that the Second Star could sit front and center. The newly altered regalia was used first for George V's coronation in 1911.
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| George V (left), George VI (center), and Elizabeth II (right) with the large Cullinans |
The new locations of the stones were created so that they could still easily be removed and used in the old brooch fashion, which Queen Mary was the last to take advantage of. Both large Cullinans and their settings are included in the public display of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, which has recently been revamped and reopened in time for the Diamond Jubilee.
Photos: The Royal Collection/Queen Elizabeth II/Mirror/Daylife/Corbis
