In Gaborone, Botswana, a momentous discovery was unveiled to the world as the largest diamond found in over a century emerged from the depths of a Botswana mine. The Botswana government proudly announced the unearthing of a massive 2,492-carat diamond, which ranks as the second-largest diamond ever discovered. This extraordinary find marks the biggest diamond discovery since 1905.
The yet-to-be-named diamond was presented to the public at a viewing ceremony held at the office of Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi. Weighing approximately half a kilogram, the stone’s grandeur left President Masisi among the first to grasp its significance.
“It is overwhelming,” remarked Masisi with awe. “I am lucky to have seen it in my time.” The president was visibly astonished, exclaiming “wow” before inviting senior government officials to marvel at the impressive gem.
Determining the diamond’s value or its future selling price is still premature. Reflecting on past sales, officials noted that another smaller diamond from the same mine fetched an impressive $63 million in 2016, setting a record for a rough gem.
Naseem Lahri, Managing Director for Lucara Diamond Corp. in Botswana, expressed immense pride over the find. “This is history in the making,” Lahri proclaimed. “I am very proud. It is a product of Botswana.”
Lucara Diamond Corp., the Canadian mining company responsible for the discovery, announced on Wednesday that the remarkable diamond came from its Karowe Mine in central Botswana. Lucara described the gem as an “exceptional” high-quality stone found intact using advanced X-ray technology designed to locate large, high-value diamonds.
“We are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492-carat diamond,” declared Lucara President and CEO William Lamb in an official statement.
The immense size of this diamond places it as the largest found in 119 years and only second to the famed Cullinan Diamond uncovered in South Africa in 1905. The Cullinan Diamond, weighing in at 3,106 carats, was later cut into several gems, some of which are part of the British Crown Jewels.
Historically, a larger but less pure black diamond was discovered in Brazil in the late 1800s. However, it was found above ground and believed to be part of a meteorite.
Botswana ranks as the second-largest producer of natural diamonds globally, trailing only Russia. Remarkably, the country has revealed all of the world’s most substantial stones in recent years. The Karowe Mine alone has produced four other diamonds exceeding 1,000 carats over the past decade.
Prior to this discovery, the Karowe Mine was also responsible for the 1,758-carat Sewelo diamond found in 2019, which was recognized as the second-largest mined diamond worldwide. The Sewelo was later purchased by French fashion house Louis Vuitton for an undisclosed sum.
Another notable gem from the Karowe Mine, the 1,111-carat Lesedi La Rona diamond, sold for $53 million in 2017 to a British jeweler. Additionally, The Constellation diamond from Karowe fetched a record $63 million.
Experts explain that diamonds form deep underground when carbon atoms compress under extreme pressure, with most diamonds being at least a billion years old, if not older, with some surpassing 3 billion years in age.
