There are some gems that have dazzled the world with their unique beauty and story. The Cullinan, the Golden Jubilee, and the Estrela de Fura fascinate not only because of their size and rarity, but also because of the stories that are associated with them.
So, let's dive into the fascinating world of these giants of nature and learn more about some of them.
The Cullinan: The diamond that changed history
The largest rough diamond ever found comes from South Africa. In 1905, a clear stone weighing 3106.75 ct (621.35 g) was discovered in the Cullinan Premier No. 2 mine. The diamond was named Cullinan after the mine's owner, Sir Thomas Cullinan.
After it was sold, the purchaser gave it to King Edward VII and in 1908, it was cut and polished in the workshop of Amsterdam jewelers. From it were created, among others, two large diamonds–the Cullinan I (530.4 carats), known as the Great Star of Africa, which now decorates the royal scepter in the British Crown Jewels, and the Cullinan II (317.4 carats), which was set into British Imperial State Crown. The remaining parts of the diamond were turned into seven other larger and 96 smaller diamonds that are owned by the British royal family. Their value is estimated at more than $2 trillion–though the true price of this historical treasure is difficult to determine.
The Golden Jubilee: The gold record holder of the Thai royal crown
The world's largest faceted diamond is called the Golden Jubilee. It was discovered in 1986 in the same South African mine as the Cullinan, but unlike the Cullinan, it is honey-brown colored with subtle reddish reflections.
In its rough form, it weighed 755.5 carats, and after two years of careful cutting, a 545.67 carat diamond in a cushion cut was created. It was presented to King Bhumibol of Thailand on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his accession to the throne and is now part of Thailand's crown jewels.
The Bahia Emerald: The story of the world's largest emerald
The emerald giant known as The Bahia Emerald is probably the largest emerald of its kind. It comes from the Brazilian region of Bahia and weighs approximately 340 kg, which corresponds to 1.7 million carats. It contains several large emerald crystals in the one piece.
After its discovery, it found its way to the US, where it narrowly escaped destruction during Hurricane Katrina. It was later stolen from a California vault and became the subject of a long legal battle over its ownership. This culminated in a decision that the stone should be returned to Brazil since according to the authorities, it had been illegally exported from there.
The Estrela de Fura: The ruby that rewrote the rules
Rubies over five carats are rare. However, when a rough ruby of exceptional quality was found in Mozambique, it was clear that this would be an extraordinary stone. After it was cut, it was called the Estrela de Fura (Star of Fury) and weighed 55.22 carats.
Its size, clarity, and intense natural color means that it has become the largest faceted ruby in the world and also the most expensive. In 2023, it was auctioned by Sotheby's for $34.8 million.
The Star of Adam: A sapphire with a unique name
In 2015, the largest known blue sapphire was found in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. The star sapphire, weighing 1404.49 carats, was named The Star of Adam. According to legend, Adam found refuge in Sri Lanka after being expelled from The Garden of Eden, giving the stone a strong symbolic meaning. If this exceptional gemstone has captivated you, take a look at our range of sapphire jewelry.
Jade from Myanmar: A hidden colossus
In 2016, a colossal jade rock with an estimated weight of 180 tons was found in Kachin State in northern Burma. Measuring almost six meters in length and over four meters in height, it is one of the largest gemstone rocks ever found. Its value is estimated at $170 million.
Moldavite from Slavice: A record find in the Czech Republic
The only gemstone in the world that exclusively comes from the Czech Republic is moldavite. The largest known piece weighing 265.5 g was found near the Moravian village of Slavice and this exceptional gemstone is now held in a private collection. By way of comparison, the average weight of moldavites from this area is approximately 13.5 g. Unsurprisingly, because of how unique and rare it is, moldavite jewelry is prized not only by collectors but also by lovers of exceptional gems.
What does the future hold?
The gems we admire today as record holders may themselves soon be surpassed by new discoveries. The fascinating world of minerals constantly reminds us that nature still has many surprises in store for us.
|
Gemstone name |
Gemstone type |
Weight |
Record held |
|
Cullinan |
clear diamond |
3106.75 ct |
Largest rough diamond |
|
Golden Jubilee Diamond |
golden-brown diamond |
545.67 ct |
Largest faceted diamond |
|
Bahia Emerald |
emerald |
1 700 000 ct |
Largest rough emerald in the world |
|
Estrela de Fura |
ruby |
55,22 ct |
Largest faceted ruby in the world |
|
The Star of Adam |
star blue sapphire |
1404.49 ct |
Largest blue sapphire in the world |
|
Moldavite (Slavice) |
moldavite |
53.1 ct |
Largest moldavite |
|
Jade (2016) |
jade |
180 tons |
Largest gemstone |
