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Cullinan Diamond

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The world’s second-largest diamond has been discovered in Botswana.

The 1,111-carat stone was recovered from the Lucara Diamond’s Karowe mine, about 300 miles north of the capital, Gaborone.

The gem is the biggest diamond to be discovered in Botswana and the largest find in more than a century.

Photo Lucara Diamond Corp

Photo Lucara Diamond Corp

The 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond was found in South Africa in 1905 and cut into nine separate stones, many of which are in the British Crown Jewels.

William Lamb, the CEO of Lucara Diamond, a Canadian diamond producer, said in a statement: “The significance of the recovery of a gem quality stone larger than 1,000 carats, the largest for more than a century… cannot be overstated.”

Photo Lucara Diamond Corp

Photo Lucara Diamond Corp

Lucara says two other “exceptional” white diamonds – an 813-carat stone and a 374-carat stone – were also found at the Karowe mine.

“I am truly at a loss for words. This has been an amazing week for Lucara with the recovery of the second largest and also the sixth largest gem quality diamonds ever mined,” William Lamb said.

Botswana is the world’s largest producer of diamonds and the trade has transformed it into a middle-income nation.

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A 29.6-carat blue diamond has been discovered at Cullinan mine in South Africa.

The stone was recovered by Petra Diamonds at its Cullinan mine, about 25 miles north-east of Pretoria.

“This stone is one of the most exceptional stones recovered at Cullinan during Petra’s operation of the mine,” the company said.

Petra Diamonds unearthed a 25.5-carat blue diamond which sold for $16.9 million in 2013.

The latest discovery is also expected to sell for a high price.

“The stone is an outstanding vivid blue with extraordinary saturation, tone and clarity, and has the potential to yield a polished stone of great value and importance,” Petra Diamonds said in a statement on Tuesday.

The 29.6-carat blue diamond has been discovered at Cullinan mine in South Africa

The 29.6-carat blue diamond has been discovered at Cullinan mine in South Africa

Cullinan mine has produced hundreds of large stones and is famed for its production of blue diamonds – among the rarest and most highly coveted of all diamonds.

The mine was acquired in 2008 by Petra Diamonds, which also operates in Botswana and Tanzania.

A similar 26.6-carat blue rough diamond discovered by the company in May 2009 was cut into a near perfect stone and fetched just under $10 million at a Sotheby’s auction.

Another deep-blue diamond from Cullinan was auctioned for $10.8 million in 2012 and set a world record for the value per carat.

In 1905, the renowned Star of Africa blue diamond – the world’s second largest cut diamond – was discovered at the Cullinan mine. The pear-shaped 530-carat stone was presented to King Edward VII and became part of the British crown jewels.

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