Royal Asscher "The Path of Diamond Cutter" exhibition to be held at Ginza Mitsukoshi from April 7th

Royal Asscher, a diamond jeweller from the Netherlands, will hold an exhibition entitled "The Path of Diamond Cutters" on the second floor of the new Ginza Mitsukoshi department store from April 7th. On display will be the tools used to cut the largest rough diamond in history, the Cullinan, as well as a silver cup given to Asscher by King Edward VII of the United Kingdom in recognition of his achievement.

An exhibition showcasing the achievements of the Cullinan cut

　Founded in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1854, Royal Asscher is a diamond jeweler that was awarded the title of "Royal" by the Dutch royal family for its many achievements, including the development of the Asscher cut and cutting the Excelsior, the third largest rough diamond in history. However, the greatest achievement in the company's history is considered to be the cutting of the Cullinan, the largest rough diamond in history.

　Discovered in the Premier Mine (now the Cullinan Mine) in South Africa, the Cullinan was presented to King Edward VII of the United Kingdom by the Transvaal government of South Africa in 1907, and the cutting was commissioned to Asscher. The cutting was carried out by Joseph Asscher, the third generation of the company. He cut out nine large diamonds and several smaller diamonds, the largest of which, Cullinan I, is set in the British Royal Scepter, and the second largest, Cullinan II, is set in the Imperial State Crown worn by the King at coronations and the opening of Parliament.

　The "Diamond Cutter's Path" exhibition, which will be held at Ginza Mitsukoshi from April 7th, will feature items that tell the history of the Royal Asscher, including the metal blade and wooden base actually used in cutting the Cullinan, a custom-made magnifying glass for examining the crystal structure, a replica of the Cullinan, and a silver cup given to the jeweler by King Edward VII.

Royal Asscher "The Path of Diamond Cutter" Exhibition

Period: Wednesday, April 7th, 2021 - Tuesday, April 20th, 2021
Location: Ginza Mitsukoshi New Building 2nd Floor Jewelry/Close-up
Address: 4-6-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
10:00 - 20:00
Phone number: 03-3562-1111 (main number)
*Business hours are subject to change.