- Uncovered in Botswana, a colossal diamond, comparable in size to an avocado.
This gemstone is as large as an avocado and is among the largest diamonds globally: A colossal unpolished diamond has been unearthed in a mine situated in Botswana. Lucara Diamond Corp, a Canadian mining company that operates its northeastern Karowe mine, reported the gem's weight at 2492 karats.
As of yet, the firm hasn't disclosed details about the diamond's quality and worth. However, Lucara CEO William Lamb referred to the stone as "one of the largest uncut diamonds ever retrieved" and "top-notch."
Largest uncut diamond from Botswana in over a century
According to Tobias Kormind, CEO of online jeweler 77 Diamonds, "the discovery of this uncut diamond, which is quite significant, is mind-blowing." The advancements in technology used in this Botswana mine have made it possible to dig up larger diamonds without damaging them, Kormind highlighted. It's likely that more discoveries will be made in the future.
Botswana is recognized as one of the world's foremost diamond countries. Its diamond industry, the primary source of income, makes up 30% of its GDP and 80% of its exports. The largest diamond ever discovered in Botswana was the 1758 karat "Sewelo," unearthed by Lucara Diamond at the Karowe mine in 2019. In 2021, Lucara found another diamond of 1174 karats using X-ray technology at the same location.
The largest documented diamond to date was found in 1905 in South Africa, near the capital Pretoria. The 3106 karat stone was sliced up and is part of the British Crown Jewels now.
The discovery of such large uncut diamonds in Botswana, like the one recently found and the historic 1758 karat "Sewelo," can be considered as rare events in the Other prominent diamond-producing countries. Despite Botswana's rich diamond history, its mining techniques and technological advancements continue to uncover even more impressive gems.
