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| the watery luster of real diamond |
This raw diamond is the second largest ever found. Weighing 2,492 carats--about a pound--it is the largest diamond found in Southern Africa since 1905. It is second in size to the famous Cullinan diamond (3,106 cts) cuts of which make up the British Crown Jewels. The largest gemstone from the Cullinan is set in the scepter of Edward Vll, the "Star of Africa". Lucara, the company that owns the mine, found it using new X-ray technology. A true fruit of Mother Earth, conditions have to just right for a diamond of this size to nearly reach the surface by volcanic eruption. Lucara has set records before. In 2015 it found a 1,109 carat diamond and in 2019 discovered a 1,758 cts black diamond. [photo credit: Lucara Diamond] Since commissioning its X-ray circuit in 2015 at Karowe, a total of 12 diamonds in excess of 300 carats, with two weighing more than a 1000 cts have been unearthed. Half of these were turned into gemstones as of 2019, generating over a hundred fifty million for the company.
The valuation of the latest spectacular crystal is not yet determined--some of that will depend on internal structure and clarity. A diamond of this unusual size is sure to be worth hundreds of millions, but not as much as the gemstones into which it will probably be cut.
Synthetic diamonds have made a significant impact on the diamond mining industry. The supply of lab produced diamonds has increased ten times since 2018. Diamond mining accounts for 80% of Botswana's exports. Lucara is undeterred by the synthetic competition, however. William Lamb, CEO, told reporters, "We believe we can eclipse the Cullinan" Nothing beats the real thing!