A gemstone not like every other has been unearthed in Botswana. The ‘Motswedi’, which suggests “water spring or movement of underground water” in Setswana, is a tough diamond weighing over a pound and measuring 2,488 carats, is now formally the second-largest diamond ever found.
The discover has surprised the gem world. Specialists are nonetheless finding out the stone in Antwerp, Belgium — the guts of the worldwide diamond commerce — to find out simply how a lot it may be value.
It’s too early to place an actual market value on it defined Margot Donquier, spokesperson for HB Antwerp, the Belgian agency analyzing and getting ready the diamond on the market. First the interior construction and what will be reduce and polished from the tough stone have to be decided.
A mine that retains rewriting diamond historical past
The Motswedi is a part of a gaggle of 4 large diamonds found on the Karowe mine in northeastern Botswana, owned by Canadian firm Lucara Diamond in partnership with HB Antwerp.
Remarkably, the identical mine additionally produced the third-largest diamond in historical past — underscoring Karowe’s popularity as one of many world’s richest sources of extraordinary stones.
Though valuations are nonetheless underway, early estimates recommend that this group of diamonds might fetch a minimum of $100 million.
The biggest diamond in additional than a century, weighing 2,492 carats, has been unearthed at a mine in Botswana. The nation’s president showcased the fist-sized stone to the world at a viewing ceremony. pic.twitter.com/H7hPIlNSXE
— The Related Press (@AP) August 23, 2024
Museum treasure or royal trophy?
The rarity of the Motswedi has sparked a wave of worldwide curiosity. Its sheer measurement and singularity make it a pure candidate for show in a serious museum. However there’s additionally the chance that it may very well be bought by a personal collector.
“Stones like this are extraordinarily uncommon. They might properly grow to be a museum piece,” mentioned Donquier. “However it’s not unimaginable that it’ll find yourself in a personal assortment, for instance, within the possession of a sheikh.”
Botswana’s rising function within the diamond story
Botswana has grow to be an everyday participant on this planet of extraordinary diamond discoveries. In 2019, the nation revealed the “Sewelo,” a 1,758-carat diamond, additionally from Karowe.
The all-time file, nonetheless, nonetheless belongs to the legendary Cullinan diamond, present in South Africa in 1905. At 3,106 carats, it stays the most important diamond ever found. Lower into a number of items, the Cullinan produced the famed “Star of Africa,” now set in Britain’s Crown Jewels and displayed within the Tower of London.
AFP’s Nicolas Tucat images a girl holding the “Motswedi” a 2,488-carat tough diamond, the second largest on this planet, on the HB Antwerp diamond firm headquarters.
Discovered utilizing X-ray transmission know-how, the Motswedi which suggests in Setswana, “water spring or movement of… pic.twitter.com/Wry1jTM0YO
— AFP Information Company (@AFP) September 23, 2025
For now, the final word destiny of the Motswedi — whether or not showcased in a museum or locked away in a personal vault — remains to be undecided. What’s sure is that its discovery cements Botswana’s place on the heart of the trendy diamond commerce.
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