World's second-largest diamond found in Botswana

The second-largest diamond in the world was discovered in Botswana. This remarkable gemstone, named the "Lesedi La Rona," was unearthed in November 2015 at the Karowe mine, which is operated by the Canadian company Lucara Diamond Corp.

The diamond weighs an astonishing 1,109 carats, making it the largest diamond discovery in over a century and the second-largest ever found, following only the Cullinan Diamond, which was discovered in South Africa in 1905 and weighed an incredible 3,106 carats before being cut.

The Lesedi La Rona is an exceptionally high-quality Type IIa diamond, meaning it contains little to no nitrogen or other impurities, giving it a rare, near-perfect transparency. The diamond's name, "Lesedi La Rona," translates to "Our Light" in the Tswana language, reflecting its significance to Botswana and its people.

The discovery of such a large and valuable diamond in Botswana further solidified the country's position as one of the world's leading diamond producers. The diamond was later sold at an auction by Sotheby's in 2017 for $53 million, though it did not meet its original estimated price of $70 million.

After its sale, the diamond was cut and polished by Graff Diamonds, one of the most renowned diamond dealers in the world, into several smaller stones, including one exceptionally large diamond. This process required advanced technology and incredible precision to maximize the value and beauty of the stones.

The Lesedi La Rona remains a symbol of Botswana's rich natural resources and its importance in the global diamond industry.

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