1907 - King Edward VII was presented with the Cullinan Diamond at Sandringham House by Agent-General of South Africa, Sir Richard Solomon. The original (whole) Cullinan was sold to the Transvaal government, which presented it to Edward VII on his 66th birthday on this day in 1907. The whole diamond was studied for months before it was cut to ensure the best possible outcome. It was eventually cut into 3 principal sections which in turn ended up producing nine major gems, 96 smaller brilliants, and 9.50 carats of unpolished pieces.
Cullinan I, aka The Great Star of Africa, pendeloque-cut brilliant weighing 530.2 carats and contains 74 facets is set at the top of the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross which had to be redesigned in 1910 to accommodate it.
Cullinan II aka The Second Star of Africa, is a cushion-cut brilliant with 66 facets weighing 317.4 carats which is set in the front of the Imperial State Crown, below the Black Prince's Ruby. measures 4.54 cm × 4.08 cm × 2.42 cm
Cullinan III aka The Lesser Star of Africa, is pear-cut and weighs 94.4 carats. In 1911, HM Queen Mary, The Queen Consort had it set in the top cross pattée of a crown that she personally bought for her coronation. In 1914, Cullinan III was permanently replaced on the crown by a crystal model. Today, it is most frequently worn in combination with Cullinan IV by Elizabeth II as a brooch. In total, the brooch is 6.5 cm long and 2.4 cm wide.
Cullinan IV is also referred to as a Lesser Star of Africa, is square-cut and weighs 63.6 carats. It was also set in the base of Queen Mary's Crown but was removed in 1914.
Cullinan V is an 18.8-carat heart-shaped diamond set in the center of a platinum brooch that formed a part of the stomacher made for Queen Mary to wear at the Delhi Durbar in 1911. The brooch was designed to show off Cullinan V and is pavé-set with a border of smaller diamonds. It can be suspended from the VIII brooch and can be used to suspend the VII pendant. It was often worn like this by Queen Mary.
Cullinan VI is a marquise-cut and weighs 11.5 carats. It hangs from the brooch containing Cullinan VIII and forming part of the stomacher of the Delhi Durbar parure.
Cullinan VIII is an oblong-cut diamond weighing 6.8 carats. It is set in the center of a brooch forming part of the stomacher of the Delhi Durbar parure. Together with Cullinan VI it forms a brooch. (Out of order because Cullinan VI & VIII are set together)
Cullinan VII is also marquise-cut and weighs 8.8 carats. It was originally given by Edward VII to his wife and consort Queen Alexandra. After his death she gave the jewel to Queen Mary, who had it set as a pendant hanging from the diamond-and-emerald Delhi Durbar necklace, part of the parure.
Cullinan IX is the smallest of the principal diamonds to be obtained from the rough Cullinan. It is a pendeloque or stepped pear-cut stone, weighs 4.39 carats and is set in a platinum ring known as the Cullinan IX Ring.
Re: Jewels On This Day
Posted by Hollie24 on November 9, 2024, 11:05 am, in reply to "Jewels On This Day"
What is the source for the text? Does that also come from the Royal Collection page? The photos are stunning and I'm drooling.
I'd like to add this compilation made many years ago now by Baxter, who produced many good images of jewels on another board.
On occasion Queen Mary did vary the smaller pendant diamonds on brooches and the necklace, eg, the larger marquise-cut diamond had been suspended in place of the smaller one on the necklace. Note how it is suspended on a shorter link than for the emerald.
Re: Jewels On This Day
Posted by Nellie on November 9, 2024, 10:01 pm, in reply to "Jewels On This Day"
Grabbing this rare opportunity to post from my favourite royal jewels category called "If you've got 'em flaunt 'em".
Queen Alexandra, at possibly the last State Opening of Parliament for Edward VII's reign (Feb 1910), wore Cullinans I and II as a brooch. I believe Cullinan VI, which he bought for her, is above and suspended from her collier résille.
But Queen Mary was able to outdo that when her turn came. Four months later in June 1910 she was presented with the rest of the Cullinans. At a later State Opening of Parliament Queen Mary wore two Cullinan brooches.
Cullinans I and II form the lower brooch and III and IV appear suspended from the bottom diamond rivière. She is wearing another on the band of her circlet. I and II could be removed from the sceptre and Imperial State Crown on request.
Previously I said Cullinans I and II could be removed from the sceptre and Imperial State Crown on request. Here is Queen Mary dressed for a Drawing Room when guests were presented at Buckingham Palace. Queen Mary is wearing Cullinans I and II as a brooch. III is pendant to her diamond rivière and IV is on the band of Queen Victoria's Regal Circlet. The Koh-i-nûr is on the central element of the circlet. Queen Mary's own crown had not yet been altered for the arches to be removable.
The Cullinan diamonds are still stunning to this day. Queen Alexandra could show them off, but her daughter-in-law, Queen Mary held her own in the Cullinan contest. Both women put the jewels on magnificent displays.
With all that grandeur I need to remind myself that royal women of today would most likely look ridiculous with such giant stunners adorning their bosoms!!
There has been a huge shift. Power and great wealth went together and the ladies were expected to display that wealth in jewellery. Today it is the billionaire celebrities who have great power - and wealth. Royal women now specialise in charitable and humanitarian causes, or the armed services. The lack of well known major jewellery at the coronation of Charles III said it all for me. Intentional I'm sure. The three crowns were all that could be tolerated.
I agree, it's a change of times. It's funny, though. Celebrity women are flattered for wearing huge stunning jewels and the media would absolutely swoon if one of the Kardashians wore the Cullinan I and II as a brooch. If Queen Camilla wore the brooch, there would be snark in the media over the audacity of wearing it. The economy, diamonds, etc. It's totally different now.
Re: Jewels On This Day
Posted by Hollie24 on November 10, 2024, 5:07 am, in reply to "Jewels On This Day"
I read somewhere that the gentleman who headed up the team which cut the diamond lost a stone in weight while prepping to make the first cut.Edward VII entrusted the uncut diamond to a Dutch firm, Joseph Asscher and Co., and a whole team worked on the diamonds after the initial cuts.
All the diamonds are spectacular, and I would never say no if offered one, but I love the brooch made with"Granny's Chips" the most.
