The largest diamond discovered in more than a century and the second largest ever mined has been unearthed in Botswana. The gem, which is about the size of a human fist, weighs a jaw-dropping 2,492 carats and is likely worth well into nine figures.
The diamond, which has not yet been named, was found using X-ray technology at the Karowe Diamond Mine in northeastern Botswana by Lucara Diamond Corp. It is one of four diamonds weighing more than 1,000 carats that the Karowe Mine has produced in the past decade alone, and a smaller rough diamond from the mine sold for a record $63 million in 2016. But officials say it is too early to determine the value of the stone or how it will be sold.
Lucara Diamond has announced the recovery of an extraordinary 2,492-carat diamond from the Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana. One of the largest rough diamonds ever recovered, the extraordinary find was detected and recovered by the Company’s Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray Transmission Technicians. pic.twitter.com/6E8wLwwl8d
— Botswana (@Botswana) August 22, 2024
Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi unveiled the stone to the world at a viewing ceremony on Thursday, August 22, and was also one of the first people allowed to hold it.
“It's overwhelming. I'm lucky to have seen this in my own time,” Masisi said of the diamond, which weighs about half a kilogram. Associated Press“Wow,” he breathed, after calling senior government officials over for a closer look.
Lucara Diamond President William Lamb said in a statement that the company was “very happy” about the historic discovery of the extraordinary diamond.
“This find not only showcases the outstanding potential of our Karowe Mine, it also supports our strategic investment in state-of-the-art XRT technology,” said Lamb. “The ability to recover such a large, high-quality stone intact demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach to diamond recovery and our commitment to maximising value for our shareholders and stakeholders.”
“This discovery strengthens Karowe’s position as a truly world-class diamond mine and highlights the continued success of our operational and underground development strategy,” he added.
The largest diamond ever unearthed, the Cullinan Diamond, was mined in South Africa nearly 120 years ago in 1905. The dazzling 3,106-carat diamond was cut into gemstones that became part of the British Crown Jewels. The largest, called Cullinan I, is the largest clear cut diamond in the world at 530.4 carats and is set at the head of the Sovereign's Sceptre, along with the Cross.
Before the discovery of the as-yet-unnamed diamond, the world's second largest diamond was the 1,758-carat Sewelo diamond found in the Karowe Mine in 2019. The diamond was sold to French fashion house Louis Vuitton for an undisclosed sum.
