World's Largest Diamond In South Africa On January 25th 1905, at the Premier Mine in Pretoria, a 3,106-carat diamond was discovered during a routine inspection by the mine's superintendent. Weighing 1 1/3 pounds, and christened the "Cullinan," it was the largest diamond ever found.
Frederick Wells was 18 feet below the earth's surface when he spotted a flash of starlight embedded in the wall just above him. His discovery was presented that same afternoon to Sir Thomas Cullinan, who owned the mine. Cullinan then sold the diamond to the Transvaal provincial government, which presented the stone to Britain's King Edward VII as a birthday gift. Worried that the diamond might be stolen in transit from Africa to London, Edward arranged to send a phony diamond aboard a steamer ship loaded with detectives as a diversionary tactic. While the decoy slowly made its way from Africa on the ship, the Cullinan was sent to England in a plain box.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
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