💎 January 26th, The World's Largest Diamond Sent by Mail: The Cullinan

    💎 On January 26, 1905, Frederick Wells, a mine superintendent in South Africa, noticed a massive object embedded in the mine wall while on patrol. At first, he thought it was a piece of glass, but it turned out to be the "Cullinan," the largest rough diamond in human history. It weighed a staggering 3,106 carats (approx. 621g), about the size of a grown man's fist.

The decision was made to present this gem to King Edward VII of England, but the problem was how to transport it. Rumors swirled that thieves from all over the world were targeting the jewel. The British government staged a loud and elaborate decoy operation, hiring armed detectives and dispatching a luxurious steamship equipped with a safe.

However, that was merely bait. The item on the ship was a fake replica. The real diamond was packed in a plain box and sent via ordinary registered post. The postage cost was a mere 3 shillings.

The diamond arrived safely at Buckingham Palace without anyone noticing. Legend has it that Joseph Asscher, the diamond cutter, fainted from the tension the moment he successfully cleaved the stone. Today, the fragments of this diamond adorn the British Sovereign's Sceptre and the Imperial State Crown.

"The Imperial State Crown, featuring the 317.4-carat Cullinan II (the Second Star of Africa) set in the front."

"The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross, holding the 530.2-carat Cullinan I (the Great Star of Africa), the largest clear cut diamond in the world."

"Mine Superintendent Frederick Wells holding the massive 3,106-carat rough Cullinan diamond shortly after its discovery in 1905."