Premier Mine

Notable discoveries

• The Cullinan Diamond is the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever found, weighing 3,106.75 carats (621.350g).
• The Premier Rose is a rough diamond weighing 353 carats (70.6g).
• The Niarchos is a rough diamond weighing 426 carats (85.2g).
• The De Beers Centenary is a rough diamond weighing 275 carats (55.0g).
• The Golden Jubilee Diamond is a rough diamond weighing 755 carats (151.0g).

Record-breaking diamonds

• In May 2008, a shield-shaped diamond weighing 101.27 carats (20.254g) sold for over US$6.2 million.
• In September 2009, a diamond weighing 507 carats (101.4g) was found, ranking as one of the 20 biggest high-quality diamonds ever discovered.
• In April 2013, a 25.5-carat (5.10g) blue rough diamond was recovered, potentially worth more than $10 million.
• In January 2014, a 29.6-carat (5.92g) blue diamond, considered the most significant blue diamond recovered by Petra Diamonds, was found.
• In June 2014, a blue diamond weighing 122.52 carats (24.504g) was discovered, expected to fetch over $35 million.

Purchase by Petra Diamonds

• On November 22, 2007, De Beers sold the Cullinan mine to Petra Diamonds Cullinan Consortium for R1 billion (US$125 million).
• The consortium consists of Petra Diamonds (37% stake), Al Rajhi Holdings W.L.L. (37% stake), and a Black Economic Empowerment foundation (26% stake).
• Petra Diamonds completed the acquisition on July 16, 2008.

References

• 'Cullinan – Petra Diamonds'. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012.
• 'Recovery of an exceptional 29.6 carat blue diamond'. Archived from the original on January 25, 2014.
• 'Who paid record price for huge diamond?'. The Sydney Morning Herald. May 29, 2008.
• 'Spectacular new diamond found'. BBC News. September 29, 2009.
• 'Mining company in South Africa finds rare blue diamond'. BBC News. April 18, 2013.

Further reading and external links

• 'Diamond Mines of South Africa, Premier Diamond mine overview + images' by A.R. Williams, former general manager of De Beers (900-page overview).
• 'De Beers sells South African Cullinan Diamond Mine' (dead link as of March 30, 2019).
• Wikimedia Commons has media related to Premier Mine.

Premier Mine Data Sources