Which diamond is the world's largest and where is it kept?

lothruin

Could be the Sefadu, an uncut diamond weighing in at 620 carats. It's owned by Lazare Kaplan, but I couldn't find where it currently resides. It is one of the largest rough stone ever found, and the only one of the top stones not to have been cut. A note, however: The Great Mogul, discovered in 1665, the world's 5th largest rough diamond, disappeared in 1739. Many experts believe a cut diamond named "Orloff" to be from this diamond, but many others disagree. This could still be the largest diamond in existence. The Golden Jubilee is a 545.67 carat cushion cut stone that only recently replaced the Cullinan I, (The Star of Africa) as the world's largest polished stone. Mar 16 04, 8:56 PM

peasypod

Star of Africa resides in the Tower of London. The Excelsior weighed 995.2 carats before it was cut into 10 stones. Mar 16 04, 9:34 PM

lothruin

The Excelsior wasn't even the largest rough ever found. That was the Cullinan, weighing in at over 3,100 carats. The Cullinan was cut into the Star of Africa and several others, which is why the Star of Africa is also known as the Cullinan I. I wouldn't think any of the cut stones is what Hamlet is looking for, though, because they've been cut, so aren't that big anymore. The Star of Africa is, as I said above, no longer the largest cut diamond. The Golden Jubilee weighs 545 carats, while the Star of Africa only weighs 530. The Golden Jubilee was presented to the King of Thailand in 1997, so presumably resides in Thailand, though I can't find where, exactly. Mar 17 04, 10:38 AM

Hamlet.

Thank you for that interesting information. I have a source that says Cullinan I was set in the British monarch's sceptre with the cross (presented to Edward VII in 1907) and Cullinan II is set in the British Imperial State Crown. Cullinan, by the way, is named for Sir Thomas M. Cullinan - chairman of the Premier Diamond Company when it was found in the Premier Diamond Mine, Transvaal, South Africa. There is also a Yank joke that says that the world's largest diamond can be found at the baseball field. Mar 17 04, 12:07 PM

lothruin

Hamlet, was the answer you were looking for the Cullinan I? (The Star of Africa) If so, that source is wrong for two reasons. One, it is no longer the largest cut diamond, as I pointed out above, and two, it was never the largest diamond, only the largest cut diamond. And just in case you require a source, though the info is readily available, here is a good one: The Gemological Institute of America, in an article about the famed diamond cutter, Gabi Tolkowsky, who cut the Golden Jubilee, mentions that it is the largest cut stone. http://www.gia.org/newsroom/608/13941/news_release_details.cfm In addition, a quick search of "Golden Jubilee" and "Diamond" turns up numerous references to this, the largest cut diamond. This diamond was really quite recently cut. The Cullinan I (Star of Africa) diamond did hold the title of largest cut stone for many years, so some sources may simply be outdated. Mar 17 04, 2:52 PM