Lesedi La Rona Diamond Overview
The Lesedi La Rona is a large gem-quality diamond discovered in November 2015 at the Karowe Mine in Botswana, owned by Lucara Diamond Corp. It is a type IIa stone with a rough weight of 1,109 carats, making it one of the largest gem-quality diamonds ever recovered and a major highlight in the global diamond industry.
Lucara Diamond Corp recovered the stone using advanced XRT technology at its Karowe operation in Botswana, and the company later named the diamond Lesedi La Rona, which means "Our Light" in the Setswana language. The find attracted immediate attention from major gem buyers and auction houses worldwide.
Auction, Sale, and Market Value
In 2017, Sotheby's held a dedicated auction for the Lesedi La Rona in London, with an opening reserve price of about $70 million, but the stone did not sell after bidding failed to meet the reserve, leaving the diamond unsold at that time.
Later, Lucara sold the diamond through a structured sale process, and the main gemstone was acquired by Graff Diamonds, which cut and polished it into a 302.37-carat emerald-cut diamond, now known as the Lesedi La Rona diamond, and Graff has since set a record price for a gem-quality diamond per carat at auction for this stone.
Ownership, Cutting Process, and Current Status
Ownership and Cutting
Graff Diamonds currently holds the polished Lesedi La Rona gemstone, and the company led a multi-year cutting and polishing process to maximize the clarity and size of the final stone while preserving its natural type IIa characteristics and exceptional color.
Key Facts
The final polished diamond weighs 302.37 carats, making it one of the largest highest-color gem-quality diamonds in the world, and it has been graded by leading gemological laboratories for its clarity and lack of nitrogen impurities.
Market Position
The Lesedi La Rona diamond is positioned as a rare high-value asset in the luxury and fine gem market, and it has been referenced in industry reports alongside other record-setting stones from Lucara and other major producers.
Further Reading
For more details on the diamond industry and major stone recoveries, see recent coverage by Forbes and reports from Lucara Diamond Corp, as well as auction records and market analysis from Sotheby's and Graff Diamonds.