The World’s second-largest gem-quality diamond has been discovered in Botswana, a Canadian company, Lucara, has said.

Lucara’s Chief Executive Officer, William Lamb, in a statement, said the 1,111-carat diamond was second in size only to the 3,106-carat one unearthed at Cullinan mine in neighbouring South Africa in 1905, was cut into British crown jewels.

The diamond, slightly smaller than a tennis
ball, was recovered by machines in the Karowe
mine in central Botswana.

However, experts said that it was too early to estimate the value of the diamond. “I am truly at a loss for words; we are truly blessed by this amazing asset.

“Our focus, mining the south lobe has been perfectly timed with the commissioning of our recent plant modifications, enabling the recovery of large, high-quality exceptional diamonds,’’ Lamb said.

An expert in the Belgian city of Antwerp, one of the world’s main diamond trading centres, said the diamond was “of exceptional quality.’’ Christopher Gemerchak from the Antwerp Diamond Jewellers Association said that a diamond half that size was sold for 35 million dollars recently.

“The historic significance of the Botswana diamond as the world’s second-largest makes it difficult to evaluate how much buyers might pay for it.

“The value of the diamond also depends on factors such as possible cracks or dark spots, which need to be evaluated,’’ he added.

“Too large to be used as such, the diamond is
likely to be cut into 200-carat, core diamond
and other smaller ones.

“That decision will be taken by the buyer, the
diamond polisher and designer,’’ Gemerchak
said.

Botswana is one of Africa’s top diamond producers, with diamonds making up about 80 per cent of its export income.

Source: thenationonlineng.net/worlds-second-biggest-diamond-discovered-in-botswana/

God bless Botswana.
I love that country, very organised and their capital Gabrone is beautiful and clean.
They are ahead of Nigeria in Human Development Index.

Blessed!

If I had all the money, i would have love to buy that Botswana diamond as a Christmas gift to my one and only sweerie in my life who
has shown me the two sides of a coin - sweet and bitter-leaf