A 1,111 Carat Diamond Was Discovered This Week!

A diamond discovery for the ages was made this week in Lucara's Karowe mine in Botswana. Weighing in at 1,111 carats it is believed to be the second largest gem quality diamond ever found!  The only one known to be larger is the legendary Cullinan diamonds, which was recovered in South Africa in 1905 and weighed 3,106.75 carats.

To put it in perspective, the diamond is about the size of a tennis ball and weighs nearly half a pound!  The diamond is so big that a proper analysis couldn't be done because the stone won't fit in the company's scanning machine!  It will be transported to Antwerp where larger equipment is available.

What is known is that the diamond is a white Type IIa, the most chemically pure of all diamond types.  Only 2% of the world's diamonds are Type IIa.

The astounding diamond will command a massive price at auction - the only question is how high the price will go.  Outside of its amazing size and remarkable quality, it also has a unique historical cache as the largest gem quality diamond found in more than 100 years.  Because of its historical component, it becomes similar to a piece of art.  The purchaser of the diamond will also be purchasing a piece of history!