Prelude
If the true story that inspired this blog was a movie, it would be as adventure-filled as an Indiana Jones flick; feature a couple of Agatha Christie plot twists; and take the viewer on a breathtaking ride from dark, suffocating pits deep in the earth to the throne room of the most powerful monarch in the world! Plus, it would have a moment of utter nerve-wracking tension to match Hitchcock's 'Psycho' shower scene!
Can you believe that this movie hasn't been made? For today, I'm going to give you a sneak peek at some juicy details of this incredible story by reciting my near-brush with the most jaw-dropping uncut diamond in the history of mankind -The Cullinan.
Back To Mine
On the 21st of January 2021, I found myself standing in a room in a building where, over a century ago, a man named Joseph Asscher attempted to split the world's largest uncut diamond. Asscher's hammer hitting the knife-end wedged into the surface of the massive rock marked the culmination of an unfathomable journey taken by the heart-sized Cullinan diamond that begins at the Premier No.2 mine in Cullinan, South Africa, on 26 January 1905.
Can you believe that this movie hasn't been made? For today, I'm going to give you a sneak peek at some juicy details of this incredible story by reciting my near-brush with the most jaw-dropping uncut diamond in the history of mankind - The Cullinan.
Back To Mine
On the 21st of January 2021, I found myself standing in a room in a building where, over a century ago, a man named Joseph Asscher attempted to split the world's largest uncut diamond. Asscher's hammer hitting the knife-end wedged into the surface of the massive rock marked the culmination of an unfathomable journey taken by the heart-sized Cullinan diamond that begins at the Premier No.2 mine in Cullinan, South Africa, on 26 January 1905.
Two years after its discovery, the Cullinan is shipped to England as a gift to King Edward VII, ruler of the great and mighty British Empire. The monarch wanted to initially leave the diamond uncut but was persuaded otherwise by Winston Churchill (then Colonial Under-Secretary of the Empire) and Dutchman Joseph Asscher (the world's most renowned diamond cutter at the time). The duo’s power of persuasion leads to Joseph Asscher being entrusted with cutting the Cullinan, the most valuable natural precious gemstone ever discovered!
On His Majesty's Perilous Service
With the weight of King Edward's expectations on his shoulders, plus the fact that one tiny mistake could render the diamond worthless, Joseph Asscher concocted a blueprint to split the Cullinan. This masterplan began with an ingenious method of getting the diamond from London to Asscher's cutting facility in Amsterdam's diamond district without getting ambushed by the press or worse, those with ill intent. Once the Cullinan's relocation was successfully pulled off, the first cut commenced - which if successful, would perfectly split the raw diamond, revealing the many-sized individual treasures inside that could be further separated, cut, polished, then unveiled in all their brilliant glory.
Pause. Rewind.
Remember, I mentioned Hitchcock tension and Christie twists? Remember, I mentioned the moment Joseph Asscher's hammer hit the edge of a knife wedged into a tiny cut made on the surface of the Cullinan? Well, we've arrived at that, as the French say, moment suprême!
On the 10th of February 1908, the world's largest precious raw diamond owned by the ruler of the world's largest empire and entrusted to the world's most renowned diamond cutter sat mounted in rock-solid clay awaiting the hammer blow that would perfectly split it in two. Except, the Cullinan decided to ignore Joseph Asscher's meticulously crafted script!
Then what?
I'm going to let you discover what happened next from the Asscher Family's own website where this unbelievable story is conveyed in delightful detail.
But I'm no sadist so I will tell you this - two of the largest diamonds cut from the Cullinan take pride of place in the annals of British Monarchy - with the Great Star of Africa set in the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross, and the Smaller Star of Africa in the Imperial Crown itself! So yes, that first attempt to split the Cullinan was not a disaster but merely a hiccup. Joseph Asscher and his family eventually cut over one hundred diamonds from the Cullinan for King Edward VII that today form part of Queen Elisabeth II's private collection.
Onwards & Upwards
The Cullinan adventure cemented the Asscher Family's reputation as the go-to diamond cutters for the most precious jewels (and greatest jewelers) in the world. They count royalty, celebrities, and diamond lovers from all corners of the globe as their clients. And have the distinction of establishing a patented cut (the Asscher Cut) that is part of today's diamond vernacular. What makes the Asscher story truly exceptional is that the 6th generation, siblings Lita and Mike Asscher, sit at the company's helm today, ensuring the Royal Asscher brand maintains its heritage and history while elegantly evolving into the future.
A brush with Brilliance
If you're wondering how I embedded myself into this incredible story of the Asscher family, let me take you back to the 21st of January 2021 when I found myself standing in a room in Royal Asscher Diamond Company’s Amsterdam-HQ from where the family's been running their business for six generations. That room houses a display cabinet in which lies an Olympic Torch-looking wooden apparatus with a cup-like receptacle at one end. In that cup was a hardened brownish grey substance with a hollowed-out hole.
Lita Asscher took the wooden item out and mentioned that it was this very mount that held the fabled Cullinan as Joseph Asscher successfully split it on his 2nd attempt! As I gazed at this object that housed a rock touched by the hands of historical rulers, politicians, and craftsmen, I stared mesmerized. Lita, noticing the same, then nonchalantly asks, "Would you like to hold it?" My instant and resounding, "YES!" was met with a wry smile. Then by a six-generation degree of separation, I went on to touch the largest uncut diamond in history.
And the experience felt, priceless.
Epilogue: A Diamond Legacy
Fast forward to 2024—another massive diamond—the second largest ever—was unearthed in Botswana, a staggering 2,492-carat stone discovered at Lucara Diamond's Karowe mine. But while this discovery stunned the world, the legendary 3,106-carat Cullinan remains unchallenged in size and historical significance.
Also, this year, Royal Asscher Diamond Company has hit an astonishing milestone, celebrating 170 years of brilliance, legacy, and craftsmanship. And just when you thought this story couldn't get any more dazzling, the family’s incredible journey has been immortalized in a new book: "ROYAL ASSCHER: De geschiedenis van een Amsterdams familiebedrijf", written by Igor Wladimiroff.
This captivating chronicle takes readers through the many storied moments in the history of this illustrious Dutch brand, including the unforgettable episode of how the Asscher family came to be entrusted with the cutting of the Cullinan diamond. It’s a breathtaking testament to their resilience, innovation, and mastery—a true Amsterdam legacy that continues to sparkle in the world of high jewelry, reminding us that some stories are simply timeless.
Tony John
DISCOVER:
The Full Story of the Cullinan