30 June 1893
The Excelsior Diamond was discovered by a miner while loading a truck in on 30 june 1893. The diamond, which is described beingas being shaped like half a loaf and white in colour with a tint of blue was the biggest diamond ever found until 1905 when The Cullinan Diamond was discovered. Unfortunately the diamond was cut into smaller pieces, which has been described as a colossal mistake on the part of the cutters. In its original form it had measured 970 carats. The eleven pieces it was cut into were made into jewellery.
References

Famous Diamonds, The Excelsior [online] Available at: https://www.famousdiamonds.tripod.com [Accessed on 26 June 2013] |Britannica, Excelsior Diamond [online] Available at: www.britannica.com[Accessed on 26 June 2013]