[imagesource: Monirul Bhuiyan / AFP]

Earlier this month, we heard about the rare 39,34-carat type IIb blue diamond that was found in South Africa’s Cullinan Mine, having the potential to shatter world records.

Then diamond stories seem to have popped up all over the show.

Although, it hasn’t been proven that the stones being dug up in the KZN ‘diamond rush’ are real diamonds (we hope they are, though).

What is very real is Botswana’s claims that it has found the third-biggest diamond in the world, unearthed by diamond firm Debswana on June 1.

Debswana said it unearthed a 1,098-carat stone, which they say is the biggest stone of gem quality to be found in the history of the company, reports Al Jazeera.

The diamond hunk is 73mm long, 52mm wide, and 27mm thick, and hasn’t been named yet.

What a beast.

Debswana is a joint venture between the government and global diamond giant De Beers, so on Wednesday, in Gaborone, President Mokgweetsi Masisi had the privilege of seeing the beauty up close:

Image: Monirul Bhuiyan/AFP

This video has more about Botswana’s precious stone:

The country can resonate with what Debswana Managing Director Lynette Armstrong said:

The “rare and extraordinary stone … means so much in the context of diamonds and Botswana.”

“It brings hope to the nation that is struggling.”

Minerals Minister Lefoko Moagi also mentioned how the discovery of the stone had come at the perfect time since the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted diamond sales quite substantially:

Production at the company fell 29 per cent in 2020 to 16,6m carats while sales fell 30 per cent to $2,1bn as the pandemic impacted both production and demand.

This impacts the well-being of the country as the government receives as much as 80% of the income from Debswana’s sales through dividends, royalties, and taxes.

Luckily for Botswana, they are Africa’s leading diamond producer.

Karowe, northeastern Botswana, was also the birthplace of the second-largest diamond to ever be found; the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona, which is the size of a tennis ball.

But South Africa is home to the world’s biggest diamond ever discovered; the 3,106-carat Cullinan found in 1905.

[source:aljazeera]