A massive 2,492-carat diamond has been unearthed in Botswana, making it the second-largest diamond ever found in history. The rough stone was discovered at the Karowe mine, owned by Canadian firm Lucara Diamond, located about 500km north of Botswana’s capital, Gaborone.
This remarkable find is the biggest since the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1905, which was later cut into nine separate stones, some of which are now part of the British Crown Jewels.
Botswana’s government has confirmed that this diamond is the largest ever discovered in the southern African state, surpassing the previous record set by a 1,758-carat stone found at the same mine in 2019. Botswana is a major player in the global diamond industry, accounting for about 20% of worldwide production.
Lucara Diamond’s head, William Lamb, expressed his excitement over the discovery, calling it “one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed.” The stone was detected using Lucara’s advanced Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology, which has been instrumental in identifying and preserving high-value diamonds to prevent breakage during processing.
While the exact value and quality of the diamond have not been disclosed, previous large stones found at the Karowe mine have fetched significant sums. In 2019, a 1,758-carat diamond was purchased by French fashion brand Louis Vuitton, and a 1,109-carat diamond found in 2016 was bought for $53 million by London jeweler Laurence Graff.
Lucara Diamond holds full ownership of the Karowe mine, but Botswana’s government is considering a new law that would require mining companies to sell a 24% stake to local firms if the government chooses not to become a shareholder. This move aims to increase local participation and benefits from the lucrative diamond industry in the country.
