De Beers' Employee Picks Up Massive Diamond

A serendipitous worker recently found the second largest rough stone ever picked up by a De Beers' employee. The diamond, which the worker simply picked up at the primary crusher, is the largest ever recovered from De Beers' Venetia Mine. Unconfirmed reports estimate that the diamond weighs in at a whopping 316.7 carats.

A 272.15 diamond found in March 2001 previously held the record for the largest stone found at Venetia.  

The employee who found the stone will receive what a De Beers' spokesperson calls 'a substantial bonus'. "…it is a demonstration of the diligence of the employee, who has lived up to the company’s values through his honesty and integrity.

"The employee, who has elected to remain anonymous, will be given a substantial bonus in accordance with De Beers’ diamond pick-up policy which seeks to encourage and reward workers who display high levels of loyalty to the company and honesty by handing in stray diamonds.”