Cullinan (Premier) Diamond Mine, Northern Gauteng

January 23, 2013
Cullinan, Gauteng, Northern Gauteng, Sightseeing, Tourism, Tourist Attractions, Unique Shopping

If you are interested in diamonds – how they are mined, cut and transformed into beautiful jewellery – then the Cullinan Diamond Mine must be the best place in the world to visit. Here you can visit the working mine, buy diamonds at the diamond store or see the big hole, four times the size of the Kimberley hole.

The Cullinan or Premier Mine as it is also known, is the richest source of rare blue diamonds in the world and has unearthed over 25% of the world’s diamonds over 400 carats. The most famous diamond ever discovered was here – the 3 106 carat Cullinan Diamond found in 1905. The stone was so large it was cut into nine major pieces and 96 smaller brilliant cut diamonds. These diamonds have since gone on to create their own legends.

At the sumptuous Cullinan Diamonds store, you can watch as expert cutters and polishers work their arts on each rough diamond, releasing the exquisite gemstone hidden within. Ask to see the glamorous Cullinan Star Cut – the 66-facet diamond with a star at its heart – which is only available from the Cullinan Diamonds store. There is a glittering display of diamond jewellery, in settings that range from the contemporary to the nostalgic. Choose your own diamond from a selection of loose stones, and watch as it is expertly set in a design that is uniquely you. All diamonds purchased carry an international certification for their quality, veracity and value.

Daily tours of the mine are open to the public and explore both underground and surface operations including the mine shaft, hoist room, big hole, and the display room.

Cullinan, an interesting historical town is 45 minutes from Pretoria and ninety minutes from Johannesburg and a visit to the mine could include a wonderful walk around the town. The diamond rush and life in this era can be experienced by a trip back in time at the McHardy House Mini-Museum, which provides a window into life in those times through photographs and possessions of the mine’s first general manager. The museum is open on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, and on weekdays only by prior appointment. Also worth seeing are the eight frescoes painted by Italian prisoners of war at the old Rec Club.