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Facts |
On February 10, 1908 the famous Asscher's Diamond Center in Amsterdam seemed to be holding its breath. Its founder, Joseph Asscher, stood near the Cullinan diamond, the largest diamond ever found in the world. Mr. Asscher was about to strike.
A doctor stood nearby to him. Mr. Asscher had requested that the doctor be present. He was afraid of what would happen to his heart should he slip up while trying to cut this 3,106 carat gem that he had been studying for the past six months.
This diamond was not only the largest diamond ever discovered, it had been bought for $800,000 (an enormous amount of money at that time) by the Transvaal government months earlier and presented to King Edward VII for his 66th birthday. It was sent to England after being insured for $1,250,000, and the king then entrusted his new treasure to the Asscher company for cutting.
Slowly Mr. Asscher picked up the steel cleaver and placed it into the groove that had already been etched in the diamond. The stillness was almost tangible as he tapped the stone. Everyone drew their breaths. The blade had broken. That meant the first attempt had failed.
But - nothing had happened to the diamond. It was time to breathe again and try once more. This time, the diamond broke apart in exactly the right places.
But it still wasn't possible to congratulate Mr. Asscher. The head of the famous diamond company had fainted. |
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