Joseph Aascher & the Cullinan Diamond aka Granny's Chips

Here's info on how the Cullinan Diamond (The Great Star of Africa)

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Joseph Asscher, first attempted to cleave (meaning “to cut the raw diamond into smaller pieces”) the giant Cullinan diamond wasn’t quite that dramatic. None the less, chopping into a diamond weighing 3,106.75 carats is no simple task. Found in the Premier No. 2 mine near Pretoria, South Africa in 1905, the Cullinan diamond was the largest gem-quality diamond ever found. Joseph Asscher was such a renowned diamond cutter, some tales even named him the “Greatest Cleaver in the World.” The King of England at the time, Edward the VII, commissioned Asscher to cleave the Cullinan into three parts, to later be included in the famous “Crown Jewels.”

Legend has it that Joseph Asscher first attempted to cleave the immense stone in front of a crowd, but broke his blade upon impact (the diamond, however, was not damaged). His second attempt took place a week later, with only the notary public accompanying him in the room. With a single blow, Asscher perfectly cleaved the diamond in accordance with his original calculations.