Diamond History
The History of Diamonds in South Africa
In the early 1870s, one of the most incredible diamond rushes began in South Africa after the discovery of a natural diamond on the Orange River.
It started with a sparkle. In 1867, 15-year-old Erasmus Jacobs played along the banks of the Orange River when he found an unusual stone. It was not just any ordinary pebble; this was the Eureka Diamond, a 21.25-carat treasure that changed the history of diamonds in South Africa. At first, no one quite believed it, brushing off the find as a fluke. This discovery marked the beginning of a South African diamond rush like no other.
The Birth of South African Diamond Mining
Back then, the idea that diamonds could come from a relatively remote stretch of land deep in Africa met with scepticism. For a while, the Eureka Diamond didn’t get the recognition it deserved. The stone passed through several hands, from Schalk Van Niekerk, a Boer farmer intrigued by its weight and lustre, to John O’Reilly, a travelling salesman, who finally realised they might hold a diamond. Yet, even after dragging it down to Cape Town, no one believed it was genuine. Finally, Dr Atherstone, a well-known geologist, shocked everyone by confirming that this was a diamond – and a valuable one.
The scepticism didn’t last much longer. Word spread quickly after this discovery. More gems surfaced along the Vaal River, including one diamond that would make headlines worldwide: the Star of South Africa, a 47.69-carat beauty that sold for an incredible £11,200 – a life-changing sum that fuelled the growing diamond fever. After that, there was no turning back. Searchers swarmed the region, digging the riverbeds, hoping for a slice of the action.
Kimberley Diamond Discovery
But it was in 1871 that South Africa’s real diamond treasure trove came to light. Near a lonely hill called Colesberg Kopje—in an area later known as Kimberley—prospectors found diamonds embedded in blue ground, a volcanic rock called kimberlite. This Kimberley diamond discovery wasn’t the small-scale river mining many had known; it represented something much greater. This was hard evidence that diamonds were rising from deep within the Earth, not just washing out of rivers. And suddenly, everyone who could grab a pickaxe or a spade wanted a piece of it.
Practically overnight, Colesberg Kopje transformed and the rush was on. The makeshift mining camp quickly grew into Kimberley, which would become the beating heart of South Africa’s diamond rush. Thousands flooded the town, creating the now-legendary Big Hole, the largest hand-dug excavation in history. From 1871, miners at the Big Hole unearthed an astonishing 13.6 million carats of diamonds.
Experience South Africa’s
Diamond Mining History
Those early days in Kimberley buzzed with adventure and enterprise. Miners staked claims in the growing city, including a fascinating mix of characters from all over the world. Among them were the Malay communities from Cape Town, who added their own unique flavour to the rush. Their camp became one of the most desirable in all of Kimberley, featuring orderly structures and a tight-knit community feel that made it stand out.
You can still see the lasting impact of these diverse groups today. The Sparkling Tour at The Diamond Works allows visitors to examine original artefacts, personal items, and even medicinal tools that early settlers used. The story of the Malay camp showcases just how much of a melting pot Kimberley truly was.
Cecil Rhodes and Diamond Mining
Not everyone, however, held onto their claims and camps for long. As diamond fever grew, land became incredibly valuable, and before long, Kimberley’s prime spots fell to the mad dash to control the riches below. Kimberley’s early multicultural communities continue to influence the town’s rich legacy, often overlooked by many.
What set South Africa’s diamond rush apart from others wasn’t just the scale of the finds, but how the South African diamond mining industry quickly industrialised. The switch to underground mining came fast. The deeper miners dug, the more they realised the real wealth hid far beneath the surface. Ordinary prospectors with simple tools couldn’t keep up. Initially, everyone worked their narrow 31×31-foot claims, but digging deeper required much more work, equipment, and investment.
Famous South African Diamonds
The diamond rush fuelled incredible finds, such as the Cullinan diamond, discovered in 1905 near Pretoria. Weighing a jaw-dropping 3,106 carats, it remains the largest gem-quality diamond ever unearthed. Shipped to England, pieces of the Cullinan were cut into invaluable stones, some set into the British Crown Jewels. This new chapter positioned South Africa as the ‘motherlode’ for white diamonds, a reputation that lasts to this day.
While large-scale diamond mining continued to grow, Kimberley never lost its charm as the place that kicked it all off. Today, visitors to The Diamond Works can come face to face with this extraordinary history. The Sparkling Tour lets visitors see for themselves the legacy of diamond mining in South Africa, showcasing personal artefacts, historical images, and unique items carefully curated to tell the story of this wild period.
FAQS
What is the history of diamonds in South Africa?
The history of diamonds in South Africa began in 1867 with the discovery of the Eureka Diamond by Erasmus Jacobs. This find ignited the South African diamond rush, leading to extensive mining in areas like Kimberley, where diamonds were found in volcanic rock.
What was the significance of the Kimberley diamond discovery?
The Kimberley diamond discovery in 1871 revealed that miners could extract diamonds from deep underground, not just from alluvial riverbeds. This discovery transformed the South African diamond mining industry, attracting thousands of prospectors and leading to the establishment of Kimberley as a major mining hub.
What does VVS mean in diamond grading?
Your diamond will receive a GIA Clarity Grade. VVS stands for ‘Very, Very Slightly Included’ (VVS1 and VVS2). As flawless or internally flawless diamonds are so rare, VVS graded stones are among the most valuable diamonds you can find.
What is the highest-class diamond?
According to the GIA Clarity Scale, Flawless (FL) diamonds are the highest grade. It means the diamond has no inclusions or blemishes (visible under 10x magnification).