
It was cut into nine major
gems and 96 brilliants.
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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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