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The rough cut
   

 

It was cut into nine major
gems and 96 brilliants.

 

There being no buyer for such a priceless gem, the diamond was purchased at the instigation of General Louis Botha, by the Transvaal government for the nominal amount of Sterling 150.000, and presented to King Edward VII of England in 1908.

The gift was gesture of goodwill by the people of the Transvaal to the British king for granting the colony responsible government at the end of the Boer War in 1903. In 1910 the Transvaal became part of the Union of South Africa.

After a thrilling undercover journey to Holland, the diamond was cut by Joseph Asscher (of the firm now Royal Asscher Diamond Company) in Amsterdam, yeilding nine major stones and 96 brilliants, all D flawless.

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