FIT FOR A QUEEN.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 764, 29 December 1908, Page 1

FIT FOR A QUEEN.

THE CULLInXn DIAMONDS. J An interesting description has been furnished (writes a London correspondent) of the unique operations in connection with the cutting and polishing of the Cullinan diamond — the gift of the people of the Transvaal to the King. The work was carried out at Amsterdam, by Messrs Asscher and Co. At the first blow the knife broke, and the diamond remained unaffected. At the second the gem was severed. Later the larger of the two pieces was further divided, for which purpose a special knife had to be made. The next process was to grind and polish the various portions of the stone, and a special room was built, so that the work could not be overlooked from other windows. The floor of the room was thickly K carpeted with felt to diminish the risk of the gems being chipped should they be dropped. The following is a complete list of the stones and their weights: A pendeloque or drop brilliant, weigning 516} carats; the extreme dimensions of this stone are 2.322 in long and 1.791 in broad; a square brilliant weighing 309 3-16 carats, 7.771 in long by. 1.594 in broad; a pendeioque weighing 92 carats ; a square brilliant weighing 62 carats; a heart-shaped brilliant weighing 182 carats; a marquise brilliant weighing 89 1.6 carats ; a square brilliant weighing 6 4-5 carats; a pendeioque brilliant weighing 4 9-32 carats; ninety-six brilliants weighing 7f carats; a number of unpolished "ends" weighing 9 carats. The first and second of these stones are by far the largest in existence, and are as distinguished for their quality as for their size. The handing over of the Cullinan diamonds to the King and Queen at Windsor took place on 21st November. "When the stones were exhibited to the King, his Majesty said they were wonderful, and far exceeded his expectations. The Queen tried on 'the two great stones round •her neck, they having been mounted in a special setting. The King thereupon exclaimed, "Beautiful, beautiful!" After that these gems were compared with the Kohinoor, which in its presehl .form weighs only 102 carats, against 516 and 309 carats of the larger Cullinan gems. Their Majesties displayed the greatest interest, and spent an hour and a balf examining the jewels and listen.ug to explanations regarding every process. The Dutch party which had <.h*.rgo of the stones were entertained at tea at the Castle, and were deeply affected at the, cordiality shown tl>iii. Afterwards the stones were quietly pocketed and conveyed to the local bianch of the* Union bank. The total value of the Cullinan jewels is etii--1 mated by experts at a 'niilion according to a cable message published in the Diamond Fields Advertiser). Jewellers anticipate a boom in diamonds, especially in heavy brilliants, as the result of the display <»f the Cullinan stones at Court function*.