Do you know the largest rough diamond ever discovered?

The Cullinan, a 3106-carat white diamond, became an object of fascination almost 120 years ago, when Frederick Wells discovered this treasure in South Africa's Premier Mine in 1905.

Named in honor of Thomas Cullinan, the mine's founder, this rough diamond was initially acquired by the South African government, before being presented to King Edward VII of England in 1907, as a token of gratitude for the recently acquired autonomy.

In a humble parcel postmarked by the post office, the Cullinan arrived in the hands of the King, who then entrusted the precious gem to Joseph Asscher, a Dutch lapidary, to divide it into several fragments. This division of the Cullinan gave rise to nine diamonds, some of which are regularly worn by the British family, such as Cullinan I, inlaid in the royal scepter, and Cullinan II, adorning the Crown of the King of England.