Cullinan History

Cullinan’s life began more than 100 years ago as a tiny tented and corrugated iron village, concentrated around the Premier Diamond Mine. Sir Thomas Major Cullinan started the mine in November 1902 on a portion of Willem Prinsloo’s farm, Elandsfontein.

Just over three years after prospecting began on the farm, on 25 January 1905, history was made when a massive 3 106 carat diamond measuring 10cm long was discovered in the side wall of the open pit. The diamond was found by Frederick Wells, surface manager of the Premier Diamond Mining Company, and named the Cullinan diamond. The gem was bought by the Transvaal government and presented to King Edward VII.

Getting it to England, though, posed a security risk and so a fantastic diversion was dreamed up. Detectives from London accompanied a fake Cullinan diamond on board a steam ship from South Africa to England (to attract any would-be thieves), while the real McCoy was sent to England in a plain-looking box via parcel post!

To date, the Cullinan diamond remains the largest diamond ever found. This historic discovery garnered great acclaim for the mine, and although it would close its doors twice (first due to the influenza outbreak of 1918 and then due to the great depression in 1932), it would eventually become one of the most famous diamond mines in the world and South Africa’s third largest diamond producer.