LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) – A California woman found a 4.38-carat
yellow diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park.

According to a release from the park, Noreen Wredberg, of Granite
Bay, California, said she found the diamond sitting on top of the
ground within an hour of searching.

Wredberg said that she and her husband, Michael, arrived at the
Arkansas state park on Thursday. She said she started to search
in a shaded area near the mine entrance, but her husband
suggested they venture farther out.

His suggestion paid off, because about 40 minutes later as she
was walking just north of a central pathway in the search area,
she spotted the sparkling gem on top of the ground.

Noreen Wredberg

At the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a 3,106-carat diamond
(above) was discovered during a routine inspection by the mine’s superintendent. Weighing 1.33 pounds, the “Cullinan” as it was christened, was the largest diamond ever found. It was  presented
to Sir Thomas Cullinan, who owned the mine. Cullinan then sold
the diamond to the Transvaal provincial government, and they
presented the stone to Britain’s King Edward VII as a birthday
gift.

The Cullinan Diamond being held by mine superintendent
Frederick Wells.

On January 25, 1905, at the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a 3,106-
carat diamond was discovered during a routine inspection by the mine’s superintendent. Weighing 1.33 pounds, and christened the “Cullinan,” it
was the largest rough 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.

A photograph of the Cullinan Diamond being held by Frederick
Wells, who discovered it.