A 3,106-carat diamond pulled from a South African mine became the 530-carat gem in Britain's royal sceptre

Frederick Wells discovered the enormous Cullinan diamond in South Africa in 1905 while working at the Premier Mine. Its exceptional size caught public attention, leading to its purchase by the Transvaal government for King Edward VII. The diamond was carefully cut into several gemstones over eight months, resulting in noteworthy pieces for the British royal collection. Following Edward VII's death, the largest stone was incorporated into the Sovereign's Sceptre.