Proud Moment: World’s Second-Largest Diamond Found In Botswana

Lucara makes diamond history! The world’s second-largest gem quality diamond has been discovered in Botswana. The high quality diamond producer with assets in Botswana, is pleased to announce the recovery of a 1,111 carat gem quality, Type IIa diamond.

The 1,111-carat stone was recovered from its Karowe mine, about 500km (300 miles) north of the capital, Gaborone. It is the biggest diamond to be discovered in Botswana and the largest find in more than a century.

The 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond was found in South Africa in 1905 and cut into nine separate stones, many of which are in the British Crown Jewels. “The significance of the recovery of a gem quality stone larger than 1,000 carats, the largest for more than a century… cannot be overstated,” William Lamb, the CEO of Lucara Diamond, a Canadian diamond producer, said.

Lucara says two other “exceptional” white diamonds – an 813-carat stone and a 374-carat stone – were also found at the Karowe mine. Botswana is the world’s largest producer of diamonds and the trade has transformed it into a middle-income nation.