A magnificient 196-carat rough white diamond has been unearthed at a mine in Lesotho, the firm owning the mine said here. The find is, however, dwarfed by the Cullinan diamond.

The diamond that measures 1.18 inches across is expected to get a 'substantial' price when it is sold by Gem Diamonds. The dazzling rock is expected to produce top colour and clarity once it is cut and polished, the Daily Mail reported Thursday.

It was found at the company's mine in Lesotho in South Africa.

The significant find, however, is no match for the giant 3,106 carat Cullinan Diamond that was discovered in 1905 and the 191 carat Koh-i-Noor, which dates back to 1306 and is unparalleled in cut and clarity and is now part of the British Crown jewels.

The Koh-i-Noor originated in India but was seized by Britain as a spoil of war in the 19th century.

Gem Diamonds has found three of the world's 20 largest diamonds in the past four years in the mine, including the 603-carat Lesotho Promise that sold for 8 million pounds.

The company in a statement said: 'This remarkable rough diamond is expected to achieve a substantial price per carat as preliminary examinations indicate that it is expected to produce top colour and top clarity polished diamonds.'