The Cullinan was sent to King Edward VII of England. But shipping a giant diamond across the ocean was risky. Pirates, thieves, and bad luck lurked everywhere.
So they pulled a genius prank. They put a fake diamond on a boat with tons of police. Guards, lookouts, the whole circus.
The real Cullinan? It was mailed in a plain box by registered post. The king picked it up like a birthday package. No one was the wiser. Funny, right?
Cutting It Down to Size
The Cullinan was too big to use. It needed to be cut. A master cleaver named Joseph Asscher was hired. He studied the crystal for months.
One wrong tap would turn the treasure into dust. He took a deep breath. Then he hit it with a steel rod. The blade broke on the first try.
What Does The Biggest Diamond In The World Look Like at Frances Sanders
He had to try again—and it worked. He passed out from the stress. Seriously, he fainted. That’s the level of diamond drama we’re talking about.
