A massive 2,492-carat diamond was recently discovered in Botswana. This exceptional gem is the second-largest diamond ever found, surpassed only by the Cullinan diamond discovered in South Africa in 1905. Moreover, the diamond was unearthed at the Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana, a renowned producer of high-quality diamonds.
A massive diamond, the second-largest diamond ever discovered, was found in Botswana. The rough diamond weighs around 2,492 carats. It was unearthed at the Karowe Diamond Mine, which is operated by the Canadian company Lucara Diamond Corp. This discovery is second only to the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond found in South Africa in 1905, parts of which are now in the British Crown Jewels.
The newly found diamond was champagne-colored and roughly the size of a fist. It was detected using advanced X-ray technology that helps preserve large diamonds during the mining process. In addition, Lucara’s CEO, William Lamb, expressed excitement over this significant find, describing it as “extraordinary.“
The diamond was presented to Botswana’s President, Mokgweetsi Masisi, and could potentially be sold to a large jewelry or fashion company. However, its exact value is not yet known, industry experts suggest it could be worth as much as £53 million.
Botswana is one of the world’s leading producers of diamonds, with the industry playing a crucial role in its economy. Moreover, the Karowe Mine has a history of yielding large diamonds, including the 1,758-carat Sewelo diamond found in 2019.
Other Massive Diamonds
A bigger black diamond was discovered in Brazil in the late 1800s. However, it was found on the earth’s surface and was believed to have been part of a meteorite. Recent large finds at the Karowe mine include the Sewelô diamond, found in 2019. It was recognized at the time as the second-biggest mined diamond in the world at 1,758 carats. Meanwhile, it was bought by French fashion house Louis Vuitton for an undisclosed amount.
The 1,111-carat Lesedi La Rona diamond was found in the mine in 2015. The diamond was then bought by Graff, the British jeweler, for $53 million (£40 million) in 2017.
Additionally, this discovery is a significant boost for the natural diamond industry, which has faced challenges from the rise of synthetic diamonds.
