Second-Largest Diamond in History Is Found

By Arden Dier, Newser Staff
Posted Nov 19, 2015 6:00 AM CST

(NEWSER) – Canadian mining outfit Lucara Diamond has just uncovered the world's second-largest diamond—and the biggest one found in more than a century. Found in the south lobe of the Karowe mine in central Botswana, the Type IIa stone is 1,111 carats and just slightly smaller than a tennis ball, reports Bloomberg. Only the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond among the British Crown Jewels, found in South Africa in 1905, is bigger; the largest diamond found in the last 100 years was a 603-carat stone. However, that find has now been shuffled to third place, thanks to a second diamond newly found in Karowe that's 813 carats, reports the BBC. A 374-carat stone was also found.

"I am truly at a loss for words," Lucara's CEO says. "The significance of the recovery of a gem-quality stone larger than 1,000 carats, the largest for more than a century, and the continued recovery of high-quality stones from the south lobe, cannot be overstated." So what is this rare rock worth? "It is almost impossible to estimate a value for such an extraordinary stone given that a valuation is highly dependent on the color, clarity, and cutting and polishing characteristics," an analyst says. Bloomberg notes that Lucara sold a 341.9-carat stone in July for $20.6 million. Others tell the Financial Times that the find is "a balance sheet changing development" for Lucara, which recently made large diamonds its focus. (This blue diamond, a daughter's birthday gift, just sold for a record amount at auction.)

SOURCE - Second-Largest Diamond in History Is Found

Mining company claims to have found
second largest diamond in history

Published November 19, 2015 SkyNews

The boss of a small diamond company says he is at a "loss for words" after several large diamonds, including the largest in more than a century, were recovered in Botswana.

Canada-based Lucara Diamond said the 1,111-carat stone was found on the south lobe of its Karowe mine in the southern African nation, declaring it the world's second-biggest gem-quality diamond ever recovered after the Cullinan diamond which features in the Crown Jewels.

The company said that it was yet to be fully examined and processed, meaning it was impossible to put any kind of value on it.

It will be determined by its color and clarity and how it is cut.

After Lucara announced the gem's discovery, it confirmed 24-hours later that two further stones - the largest being an estimated 813 carats - had been found as well at the same mine.

The focus, however, was on the Type IIa diamond - which measured 65 mm by 56 mm by 40 mm.

SOURCE - FOX NEWS