The Cullinan Diamond

South Africa is one of the world’s top diamond producers. It is therefore significant that the largest diamond in the world was discovered in South Africa.

Percival Tracey and Thomas Cullinan established the Premier Mine near Pretoria in 1903. It was established on a large kimberlite pipe, which is estimated to be 1 200 million years old. Two years later, on 25 June 1905, the world’s largest diamond was found in this kimberlite pipe. It was appropriately named the Cullinan Diamond after Thomas Cullinan.

The diamond was bought by the Transvaal Government and presented to the British King. It was cut into 9 large stones and 96 smaller stones. The largest stone, known as the Star of Africa was set in the Royal Sceptre and the second largest stone, named the Lesser Star of Africa became part of the Imperial Crown.

The uncut Cullinan diamond weighed more than 500 g (1.1 lbs.) before it was cut up.

Indeed something that makes all South Africans proud!

Dinokeng, Gauteng, South Africa

The Dinokeng area is famous as the place where one of the world’s largest diamonds, the Cullinan diamond, was wrestled from the earth and brought into the light. Situated a few minutes away from Pretoria, Dinokeng is a great destination for people who want to take a look at how people lived at the turn of the 19th century near the early diamond mines.

Dinokeng falls into the catchment zone of the Pienaars and Elands Rivers. This small town is just a few minutes away from Pretoria and is home to the third richest diamond mine in South Africa. Even though the famous Cullinan diamond was found here over a century ago, the mine is still active, bringing out a large number of high quality stones every year. The mine is open to visitors and there are mine tours allowing visitors to see how the mine worked a century ago and how diamonds are mined today with modern technology.

Dinokeng offers visitors the chance to see how people lived at the turn of the 19th century. Perhaps the best example of the old way of living is the Sammy Marks Museum.

South Africa’s first industrialist built a home in Dinokeng that is the very image of the Victorian era. The Sammy Marks House Museum is an impressive mansion with an extensive garden that was once the home of wealthy industrialist Sammy Marks. A tour through the Sammy Marks house gives visitors the chance to see how a wealthy family of the time lived.

The Dinokeng area is also home to many ruins from previous conflicts and inhabitants. Some of the old battlefields and forts are marked while others are semi-forgotten, waiting for visitors to uncover them and to remember.

For an interesting excursion into the diamond country of Gauteng, a journey to Dinokeng is in order. Situated only a short distance from Pretoria or Johannesburg, the area is a great place for visitors to see and learn about the diamond mining enterprises of the turn of the 19th century.

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