World’s largest diamond at the time, the Cullinan, is found in South Africa

Cullinan Diamond

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

World’s largest diamond at the time, the Cullinan, is found in South Africa — Cullinan Diamond

On 26 January 1905 miner Frederick Wells extracted a large diamond from the Cullinan mine, a few kilometres outside Pretoria in South Africa's mineral-rich Gauteng province. The diamond weighed a massive 3.106 carats and was found alongside two other diamonds, each greater than 50 carats. For almost a century the Cullinan Diamond was regarded as the largest single diamond ever found. The diamond was given as a gift to King Edward VII and now forms part of the British crown jewels. Experts have valued this diamond as being worth more than £200million.

How we know this

01Telegraph Media Group, (2009), One of the biggest diamonds discovered in South Africa, from The Telegraph, 29 September, [online], Available at www.telegraph.co.uk [Accessed: 22 January 2010]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). World’s largest diamond at the time, the Cullinan, is found in South Africa. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011282

South African History Online (2011) 'World’s largest diamond at the time, the Cullinan, is found in South Africa', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011282 (Accessed: 22 October 2026).

South African History Online, World’s largest diamond at the time, the Cullinan, is found in South Africa [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011282, (accessed 22 October 2026).

"World’s largest diamond at the time, the Cullinan, is found in South Africa." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011282. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "World’s largest diamond at the time, the Cullinan, is found in South Africa." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011282.