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10 Incredible Diamond Discoveries in Botswana That Shook the World
Explore Botswana’s remarkable diamond discoveries that transformed the industry and showcased the beauty of natural diamonds.
Published: October 23, 2025
Written by: Meredith Lepore
Botswana has produced some of the largest and rarest natural diamonds seen in modern history, making it the undisputed epicenter for diamond discoveries.
These extraordinary diamond discoveries not only demonstrate Botswana’s geological fortune but also highlight the nation’s role as a global leader in ethical diamond production, diamond extraction technology, and economic development. 80% of the value of rough diamonds found in the country stays in the country and is a leading force in its economy.
In this article, we explore 10 of the most remarkable diamond discoveries in Botswana over the last decade—stones so rare and powerful they’ve captivated gemologists, collectors, and diamond lovers around the world.
Meet the Expert
- Grant Mobley is the Jewelry & Watch Editor of Only Natural Diamonds.
- He is a GIA Diamonds Graduate.
- He has over 17 years of jewelry industry experience, starting with growing up in his family’s retail jewelry stores.
A Brief History of Botswana Diamond Discoveries
When the discovery of the first monumental diamond deposit in Botswana occurred in 1967, the country was among the world’s poorest at the time. Led by the country’s founding president, Sir Seretse Khama, he built an economy rooted in infrastructure and responsible resource development. He helped turn Botswana into the world’s number one diamond-producing country by value.
Debswana Diamond Company, a joint venture between the Botswana government and the global mining giant De Beers, manages the majority of the country’s diamond mines and diamond discoveries.
“No country has rewritten the history of diamonds the way Botswana has. In just a few decades, it’s gone from an unknown in the diamond world to the most important source of the rarest and most exceptional diamonds ever discovered. But what makes Botswana truly remarkable isn’t just the size or beauty of its diamonds; it’s how the country has turned that natural resource into shared national prosperity. Botswana has set the global standard for how a nation can harness its natural resources responsibly, transforming them into opportunity, infrastructure, and pride for all its people,” Mobley says.
The 1,109-Carat Lesedi La Rona, the World’s Largest Square Emerald-Cut Diamond (2015)
When this monumental 1,109-carat rough diamond was discovered, it made history as the world’s second-largest gem-quality diamond. It was surpassed only by the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond, which went on to adorn the British Crown Jewels. This is why British Jeweler Laurence Graff wanted to purchase the Lesedi La Rona, which means “our light” in Botswana’s Tswana language. He succeeded and bought the rough stone from Lucara Diamond Corporation in 2017 for $53 million. This was an unheard-of sum for a rough diamond at the time.
Once Graff had the stone, he and his highly skilled team got to work. Though their software told them it would be impossible to cut a 300-carat diamond, Graff insisted they do it. It was a major risk, but using state-of-the-art lasers and Graff’s master craftsman, who spent hundreds of hours planning and cutting, he had a 302.37 carat diamond. The Graff Lesedi La Rona holds the world’s record as the largest diamond of the highest color and clarity ever certified by the GIA. It is also the world’s largest square emerald cut diamond. This makes it one of the most significant diamond discoveries ever.
Source: Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana
The Constellation Diamond Sold for $63.1 Million (2015)
The Constellation Diamond—one of the most epic diamond discoveries in recent memory—was found at the Karowe mine in Botswana in November 2015 and was bought by Nemesis in partnership with de Grisogono the following year for the impressive price tag of $63.1 million. At the time, this set a record for the price of a rough diamond, coming to nearly $78,000 per carat.
Source: Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana
The Record-Breaking Sewelô was one of the Most Major Diamond Discoveries (2020)
Though new to the diamond discoveries game, Louis Vuitton made not one but two major statements in 2020. The historic French fashion house in partnership with Karowe-owner Lucara and HB Antwerp, a diamond supply chain and manufacturing company, discovered not one but two massive diamonds.
The first was the record-breaking Sewelô, which means ‘rare find’ in Setswana and is an almost completely black diamond. Coming in at a staggering 1,758 carats, it was the biggest rough diamond discovered in an entire century and the second-largest diamond ever discovered.
Source: Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana
The 549-Carat Sethunya Diamond Got the Louis Vuitton Treatment (2020)
In February of 2020, right before the Pandemic, diamond sorter Maria Basupi had a very good day—making one of the most remarkable diamond discoveries in present day. She discovered an extraordinarily large and pristine rough crystal. The name, Sethunya, means flower in the Setswana language.
The stone is absolutely exceptional due to its clarity, high luster, and high color factors. This is true perfection, a result 1 to 2 billion years in the making. Nine months later, Louis Vuitton purchased the 549-carat diamond named Sethunya.
Source: Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana
The 998-Carat Diamond Discovery (2020)
The 998-carat rough diamond is a remarkable find and was the fourth-largest diamond discovery at the time. This finding was a testament to Lucara Diamond’s founders, Eira Thomas and Catherine McLeod-Seltzer, who took somewhat of an investment risk with new equipment and technology specifically used for uncovering very large diamonds. It paid off as far as diamond discoveries go, as this was the second over 500-carat diamond they uncovered in 2020.
Source: Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana
The 1,098-Carat Diamond Discovery (2021)
This was an absolutely extraordinary find, as this 1,098-carat diamond is believed to be the third-largest gem-quality diamond in the world, only behind the legendary Cullinan Diamond and another of the great diamond discoveries we will get to later. It was also significant because it was the largest stone of gem quality to be unveiled since Debswana started in the 1970s.“This rare and extraordinary stone… means so much in the context of diamonds and Botswana. It brings hope to the nation that is struggling,” says Debswana Managing Director Lynette Armstrong.
Source: Debswana Diamond Co.
The 470-Carat Light Brown Diamond Discovery (2021)
Another diamond discovery win for Karowe, and a very significant one at that. This shows Karowe’s consistency in large diamond recovery. The rare light brown diamond was one of six diamonds recovered at the Karowe mine, greater than 200 carats, and only the third to exceed 300 carats in 2021. It was later cut into multiple polished stones.
Source: Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana
The 1,080-Carat Eva Star Diamond Was Part of a Record-Breaking Sale (2023)
The 1,080-carat Eva Star, a rare Type IIa diamond that represents less than 2% of global diamond production, further underscored both the remarkable work at Karowe and the exceptional mineralogical conditions that make such finds possible. Along with the Sethunya, discovered in 2015, these two extraordinary diamonds together made a record-breaking sale for Lucara in 2025 at $54 million.
Source: Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana
1,094-Carat Seriti Diamond Discovery (2024)
The 1,094-carat diamond, recovered in September 2024, is named Seriti, which translates to “aura” or “presence” in Setswana. At the time of its discovery, Seriti was the world’s sixth-largest gem-quality rough diamond. As of March 2025, it is now being assessed and cut by HB Antwerp’s gem cutters. They will use their cutting-edge tools to reveal its color, clarity, and value.
Source: Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana
The 2,492-Carat Diamond is One of the Largest Rough Diamonds Ever Found (2024)
This massive 2,492-carat diamond stunned the world. It immediately drew comparisons to the Cullinan diamond, the largest diamond ever found, which was cut into multiple gems, some of which were used in the British Crown Jewels. This 2,492-carat diamond is the second-largest diamond ever discovered and the biggest one to be recovered in 120 years.
Mobley wrote of the many incredible diamond discoveries made in Botswana, including this one,”The rarity of such discoveries is almost beyond comprehension. In the entire history of diamond recovery, fewer than 30 diamonds over 500 carats have ever been unearthed, with the discovery of stones over 1,000 carats being exponentially more extraordinary. Each new find of this magnitude is a monumental event that reshapes the history of natural diamonds and their role in the world.”
Source: Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana
The Technology Behind Botswana’s Diamond Discovery Success
Botswana has become and remained the global leader in diamond mining due to its investment in cutting-edge recovery technology.
The country commonly uses X-Ray Transmission (XRT) technology, pioneered by Lucara Diamond Corp. at the Karowe Mine. XRT uses high-energy X-rays to differentiate diamond-bearing ore from waste rock based on atomic density. This means crushing can be taken out of the process, which makes it less invasive and less likely to break rough diamonds in the process.
Beyond maximizing yield, XRT reduces environmental impact by lowering energy and water use. The success of XRT has inspired wider adoption across Botswana’s mining sector, reinforcing the country’s strategy of combining resource efficiency, transparency, and innovation.
This technological leadership continues to shape Botswana’s role as a responsible diamond producer while paving the way for more sophisticated recovery methods in the future.
The Future of Diamond Discoveries in Botswana
The legacy of diamond discoveries in Botswana continues to evolve. With most surface deposits now exhausted, the next phase lies underground. Lucara is leading this transition with a major underground expansion at the Karowe Mine, designed to extend its lifespan to at least 2040.
The dialogue around diamond discoveries is crucial for sustainable development in Botswana. Its diamond industry remains the backbone of the national economy, funding infrastructure, healthcare, and education. As we look to the future, diamond discoveries will remain a cornerstone of Botswana’s identity.
“For the people of Botswana, these diamonds are not just stunning geological wonders; they fuel a thriving nation. These remarkable diamonds are a source of national pride and a reminder of the transformative power of natural resources when recovered responsibly,” Mobley says.
