The "Star of Africa" diamond

[milestogo]

Link to tweet

[SWBTATTReg]

1. One of the most expensive thefts in history? Wow. I wonder if the British ever made restitution

for the theft?

[milestogo]

2. Nope, and there's more if you expand the thread.

The British empire was a terrible thing.

Link to tweet

[SWBTATTReg]

6. I did expand the reading on the history of these stones, and it's the same, sad, old story about

the rape of the mineral riches of Africa (and Mexico, South America too). And of course, not to point a finger at just the British, the Spanish, and the Portuguese too, were pretty ruthless (and I imagine the Dutch too were, even the Russians w/ the Czars too). Greed was alive and well back in the day.

[milestogo]

8. Yes, and the day wasn't that long ago.

This is what the British "colonies" are talking about today. They aren't celebrating the coronation, they want their valuables back.

[marybourg]

9. The Belgians were among the worst.

[GoCubsGo]

3. Did that emerald come from the mine Eloon Musk's father owns?

[ITAL]

4. In a sense

Practically all diamonds are "stolen" from Africa. My wife's engagement/wedding ring probably has diamonds from there.

[milestogo]

7. South Africa and Botswana have a lot of diamonds.

DeBeers is involved in both, and these countries are no longer colonies.

Its the colonial context that defines the nature of this. Diamonds mined and sold fairly are not stolen.

[EX500rider]

5. How exactly was it stolen?

"Discovered at the Premier No.2 mine in Cullinan, South Africa, on 26 January 1905. It was named after Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the mine. In April 1905, it was put on sale in London, but despite considerable interest, it was still unsold after two years. In 1907, the Transvaal Colony government bought the Cullinan and Prime Minister Louis Botha presented it to Edward VII, the British king who reigned over the territory, and it was cut by Joseph Asscher & Co. in Amsterdam."

Sounds like it was purchased legally and presented to Edward the 7th.