The 1,098-carat diamond happens to be the third-largest gem-quality stone ever mined. The diamond was discovered by the Debswana Diamond Company in Botswana, according to a joint venture between Anglo American De Beers and the government.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi was presented the stone on Wednesday by Debswana Diamond Company’s managing director, Lynette Armstrong. As the third-largest in the world is places behind the 3,106-carat Cullinan stone recovered in South Africa in 1905. In second place is the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona discovered by Lucara Diamonds in Botswana in 2015.
This yet-to-be-named stone is “the largest diamond to be recovered by Debswana in its history of over 50 years in operation,” Armstrong said. The stone measures 73 mm long, 52 mm wide, and 27 mm thick. As the COVID-19 impacted diamond sales greatly, this discovery came at a perfect time for the company. The government gets up to 80 per cent of the income from Debswana’s sales through dividends, royalties, and taxes.
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