Events & AwardsAug 04, 2025
Gem Awards, David Yurman Introduce $50K Grant for Emerging DesignersThe winner of the inaugural David Yurman Gem Awards Grant will be announced live at the 2026 Gem Awards gala.
AuctionsApr 24, 2019
Document Outlining Cutting of Cullinan Headed to Auction
Estimated to sell for between $2,600 and $3,900, the lot also includes a paste replica of the rough diamond and its resulting cut stones.
At Bonhams’ London Jewels sale at the end of the month, the auction house will sell the original document outlining the agreement between the secretaries of King Edward VII and London diamond brokers M.J Levy & Nephews on the cutting and handling of the Cullinan diamond.
London—A history buff could soon be the owner of the original document outlining the cutting and cleaving of the historic Cullinan diamond.
At Bonhams’ London Jewels sale scheduled for April 30, the auction house will put on the block the historic document that facilitated the cutting of the world’s largest rough diamond.
Dated Jan. 29, 1908, the original manuscript is for the ‘Agreement for the Inspection of the Cullinan Diamond’ between the representatives of King Edward VII and London diamond brokers M.J Levy & Nephews.
This document brokered the handling and cutting of the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond—which remains the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered—by the renowned Asscher Company to create the nine principal Cullinan Diamonds, Bonhams said.
It appointed M.J Levy and Nephews as “inspectors” of the Cullinan and outlines the parameters and guidelines of how it had to be handled, as well as the duties of each party.
The auction lot includes the original documents as well as a paste replica of the Cullinan as it appeared in its rough form and two replica sets of the nine principal diamonds cut from the stone.
The lot is estimated to sell for between $2,600 and $3,900.
The Cullinan rough diamond was discovered near Pretoria, South Africa, in 1905. So large it was believed to be a piece of rock crystal instead of a diamond, the rough was named after Thomas Cullinan, chairman of the mine where it was found.
The stone initially failed to find a buyer and was eventually sold for £150,000 to the South African Transvaal Colony government in 1907, which then presented it to King Edward VII on his 66th birthday in November of that year as a symbol of South Africa’s loyalty to the Crown, Bonhams said.
After the king received the stone, he was advised by his private secretaries to consult London diamond brokers Messrs M.J. Levy & Nephews about the cutting of the rough given the complexity and risk of the task.
Arthur and Alexander Levy then brokered it to be cut and polished with Asscher in Amsterdam, which had just cut the 995.2-carat Excelsior Diamond in 1903.
Since it wasn’t possible to shape and polish the stone without splitting it, the responsibility fell to Joseph Asscher, the house’s most skilled cleaver, to do the task.
After studying it at length, Asscher created a 6.5-mm deep incision in the diamond over several days. Then, in February 1908, his first attempt to cleave it ended when the blade on his tool broke as soon as he struck the stone.
After making stronger tools, he tried again the following week, successfully cleaving the Cullinan rough into two parts—one weighing 1,977 carats and the other 1,040 carats.
These stones were further polished and cut in the months following to create nine main stones, 96 smaller diamonds, and several polished “ends.”
Those nine principal diamonds, named Cullinan I through Cullinan IX, now form part of the collection of the Crown Jewels and the collection of Her Majesty The Queen.
Cullinan I remains the largest polished white diamond in the world, weighing 530.20 carats. It sits on top of the Sovereign’s Sceptre.
The Cullinan II, weighing 317.40 carats, is set at the front of the Imperial State Crown, currently located in the Tower of London.
Bonhams said the agreement documents and paste replicas of the stones were handed down through the business and subsequent owners of M.J. Levy & Nephews.
The auction house said this is the first time they are being offered for sale on the open market.
Details and information on the lot can be found at Bonhams.com.
More on Auctions
The Latest
TrendsAug 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: August’s Bright BaublesAs summer winds down, celebrate the sunny disposition of the month’s birthstones: peridot and spinel.
CrimeAug 04, 2025
‘The Watch King’ Assaulted, Robbed in QueensMoshe Haimoff, a social media personality and 47th Street retailer, was robbed of $559,000 worth of jewelry by men in construction outfits.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
MajorsAug 04, 2025
Borsheims Welcomes New Assistant Facilities ManagerXavier Dibbrell brings more than a decade of experience to the role.
Weekly QuizJul 31, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Helzberg President Julie Yoakum Moves Over to Signet JewelersThe addition of Yoakum, who will lead Kay and Peoples, was one of three executive appointments Signet announced Thursday.
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Jewelers Mutual Names Mike Alexander as President The insurance company’s previous president and CEO, Scott Murphy, has split his role and will continue as CEO.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
SourcingAug 01, 2025
Gemfields’ Auction Revenue Drops 50% in H1The nearly six-month pause of operations at its Kagem emerald mine earlier this year impacted the miner’s first-half results.
CollectionsAug 01, 2025
Piece of the Week: Hernsdorf’s ‘Tears of Aphrodite’ NecklaceThe necklace uses spinel drops to immortalize the moment Aphrodite’s tears mixed with her lover Adonis’ blood after he was fatally wounded.
SourcingJul 31, 2025
De Beers Records $189M First-Half Loss The diamond miner and marketer warned last week that it expected to be in the red after significantly cutting prices in Q2.
Events & AwardsJul 31, 2025
These Are the 2025 CASE Award WinnersJewelers of America’s 35th annual design contest recognized creativity, artistry, style, and excellence.
IndependentsJul 31, 2025
Matthew Tratner Takes Over as CBG President Tratner succeeds Andie Weinman, who will begin stepping back from the buying group’s day-to-day operations.
Policies & IssuesJul 30, 2025
Tariff on India Will Be 25%, Trump Says The president made the announcement via Truth Social Wednesday, adding that India also will face a penalty for its dealings with Russia.
FinancialsJul 30, 2025
Kering's Jewelry Brands Resilient As H1 Sales Slide 16%The luxury titan’s star brand Gucci continued to struggle amid a "tough" environment.
WatchesJul 30, 2025
Peek Inside Zadok Jewelers’ New Rolex Showroom in AustinIts opening marks the completion of the retailer’s new 11,000-square-foot store in the Texas capital.
SurveysJul 30, 2025
Consumer Confidence Ticks Up in JulyRespondents shared concerns about tariffs and commentary on the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
SourcingJul 30, 2025
Rob Bates to Release Latest Book in His ‘Diamond District Mystery’ Series“Making a Killing in Diamonds” tells the story of Mimi Rosen, the disappearance of a scientist, and the murder of lab-grown diamond CEO.
EditorsJul 29, 2025
Out & About: Visiting Tacori’s Design Studio in LASenior Editor Lenore Fedow learned a lot when she took a behind-the-scenes factory tour with the jewelry brand earlier this year.
Events & AwardsJul 29, 2025
Melee The Show Welcomes 15 New DesignersThe first-time exhibitors, set to debut at the New York City show, share a devotion to craftsmanship, storytelling, and material integrity.
SourcingJul 29, 2025
Auctim to Offer 7.3M+ Carats of Rough EmeraldsThe online auction house’s September sale will feature rough Brazilian emeralds of various qualities.
MajorsJul 29, 2025
Alexis Padis Re-Elected AGS Board President She’ll lead an executive committee consisting of President-Elect Bryan Moeller, Mitchell Clark, Bill Farmer, and Larry Rickert.
Policies & IssuesJul 28, 2025
U.S.-EU Come to Agreement on Tariffs Announced Sunday, the deal will set the tax on goods imported into the United States from the European Union at 15 percent.
CollectionsJul 28, 2025
Nanis Brings a New Palette to ‘Ipanema’A new edition of the Italian brand’s “Ipanema” collection has debuted with gemstones that evoke Brazil’s breathtaking views.
MajorsJul 28, 2025
The 1916 Company Partners with ‘Shark Tank’ Star’s Watch Insurance PlatformThe retailer will refer its customers to WonderCare, founded by venture capitalist and watch collector Kevin O’Leary.
IndependentsJul 28, 2025
Sissy’s Log Cabin to Open Flagship in Arkansas The jeweler’s largest store yet is set to open in Little Rock next fall.
CollectionsJul 25, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jemma Wynne’s ‘Forme’ NecklaceAnne Hathaway was seen wearing the toggle necklace three times while filming scenes for “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”
