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eventREF E-0087279Revised

Event record

The Excelsior, biggest diamond till then, is found in the Jagersfontein mine, OFS

The Excelsior

The Excelsior

Date
30 Jun 1893
Updated
30 Jun 2026
The Excelsior

The Excelsior

The Excelsior Diamond was discovered by a miner while loading a truck in on 30 june 1893. The diamond, which is described beingas being shaped like half a loaf and white in colour with a tint of blue was the biggest diamond ever found until 1905 when The Cullinan Diamond was discovered. Unfortunately the diamond was cut into smaller pieces, which has been described as a colossal mistake on the part of the cutters. In its original form it had measured 970 carats. The eleven pieces it was cut into were made into jewellery.

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How we know this

  1. 01Famous Diamonds, The Excelsior [online] Available at: https://www.famousdiamonds.tripod.com [Accessed on 26 June 2013]
  2. 02Britannica, Excelsior Diamond [online] Available at: www.britannica.com[Accessed on 26 June 2013]

Last updated · 30 Jun 2026

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, June 28). The Excelsior, biggest diamond till then, is found in the Jagersfontein mine, OFS. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0087279

South African History Online (2012) 'The Excelsior, biggest diamond till then, is found in the Jagersfontein mine, OFS', South African History Online, 28 June. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0087279 (Accessed: 4 September 2026).

South African History Online, The Excelsior, biggest diamond till then, is found in the Jagersfontein mine, OFS [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0087279, (accessed 4 September 2026).

"The Excelsior, biggest diamond till then, is found in the Jagersfontein mine, OFS." South African History Online, 28 June 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0087279. Accessed 4 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "The Excelsior, biggest diamond till then, is found in the Jagersfontein mine, OFS." South African History Online. June 28, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0087279.

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