Michael Graak, age 13, of Montgomery, Alabama, for his question:

Which was the largest diamond ever found?

In 1905, when they found the world's whopper, it was a hunk of diamond weighing more than one and one third pounds. It was named the Cullinan, for Sir T. M. Cullinan who owned the Premier Mine of South Africa where the champ was found. Naturally a pure white diamond weighing 3,106 carats created quite a global stir. For it was three times bigger than any diamond found previously. Financial experts and top gem cutters were consulted about its value and proper handling.

After two years of serious consideration, the Cullinan was bought by the Transvaal government and presented to Britain's King Edward VII. In 1908, the diamond cutters of Amsterdam were ready to cut the huge natural stone and create glittering gems from the pieces. One is the glittering Star of Africa, the world's largest cut diamond weighing in at 530 carats. This one and the second largest, weighing 317 carats, belong in the British Crown jewels, on display at the Tower of London. Seven other Cullinan stones belong to the royal family. And 96 somewhat smaller glittering gems belong in other collections.