CULLINAN DIAMOND.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 311, 22 September 1908, Page 2

CULLINAN DIAMOND.

Sir John de Villiers, the famous Gape Colony judge, who represented South Africa at the Quebec Tercentenary, recently o-ave some information as to the cutting of the Cullinan diamond. This diamond, the largest in the world, is being cut in two by Amsterdam diamond cutters, and the two chief gems will ornament the sceptre and crown of the King. Sir John saw the Cullinan diamond before it was sent to Europe and it was a moot question what the quality of the huge crystal would be. Experts can never tell the brilliancy or perfection of a diamond iii th erough. Sir John has now heard that the Cullinan diamond is of superfine quality, pure white, and. possessed of remarkable biillancy and lustre. The cutting will employ three artisans at least nine months. One of the diamonds will weigh 425 carats, and the other will be slightly smaller, but both will be considerably larger than the Koh-i--"Noor (102 carats). The cost of cutting will probably be met by the value of the chips which come from the tw’O perfect gems. In conversation, Sir John said that South Africa was suffering severely 7 from the financial disturbances in the United States. The United States, as the greatest diamond-buyer, has curtailed the demand, and as a result there was a noticeable decrease in the working forces at Kimberley and the Transvaal mines. The diamond industry in Capetown averages £25,000,000 a year, and it might be seen how the diamond market affected other industries. The chief revenue of South Africa was gold, but prosperity there depended almost as much on its diamond exports.