Botswana uncovers the world's second-largest diamond.

• In Botswana, a massive diamond was unearthed at a mine operated by the Canadian company Lucara Diamond.
• The 2,492-carat diamond is the world's second-largest diamond discovery, surpassed only by the 3,106-carat diamond found in South Africa in 1905.
• William Lamb, president and CEO of Lucara, stated that they are thrilled about the recovery of the 2,492 carat diamond.

In Botswana, a Canadian-owned mine unearthed one of the largest diamonds ever discovered.

The 2,492-carat diamond, discovered more than a century after the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond in South Africa in 1905, is the world's second-largest gemstone. The Cullinan Diamond was cut into nine large pieces, many of which were used in the British Crown Jewels.

On Wednesday, Lucara announced that the gem was found at the Karowe Diamond Mine in northeastern Botswana using X-ray technology. The company did not disclose the value of the "high-quality" stone.

William Lamb, president and CEO of Lucara, stated that they are thrilled about the recovery of the 2,492 carat diamond.

He stated that the discovery of this find not only highlights the exceptional capabilities of our Karowe Mine, but also underscores our commitment to investing in advanced [X-ray Transmission] technology.

On Thursday, Getty Images published photos of Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi holding the 2,492-carat diamond at his office in Gaborone.

Last year, Botswana was responsible for 20% of the world's diamond production, making it one of the largest diamond producers globally, according to GlobalData.

The discovery of the 1,111-carat diamond was preceded by other significant finds from the Karowe Diamond Mine, such as the 1,758-carat Sewelô diamond in 2019 and the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona diamond in 2015.

In 2020, Louis Vuitton purchased the Sewelô diamond for an undisclosed amount, while the Lesedi La Rona diamond was sold to Graff Diamonds for $53 million in 2017.