Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
472-Carat Diamond Found in Botswana
It’s the third-largest diamond yielded by Karowe, the mine that also produced the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona.

Vancouver, British Columbia--Lucara Diamond Corp. announced Thursday that the Karowe diamond mine in Botswana has yielded another big stone, this one weighing 472 carats.
The diamond, described as a “top light brown” stone, is the third largest diamond ever recovered from Karowe, which also yielded the 1,109-carat diamond dubbed the “Lesedi La Rona,” which was purchased by Graff Diamonds in September for $53 million.
The second-largest diamond ever found at Karowe was the 812.77-carat “Constellation” diamond, which was discovered just a few days after the Lesedi La Rona in the fall of 2015. The Constellation sold in May 2016 for $63 million.
Lucara CEO Eira Thomas said that this year the company is focused on mining at the high-value south lobe, which is known as a consistent source of diamonds weighing more than 10.8 carats.
In Q1 2018, Lucara reported that it recovered 218 “specials” (diamonds that are more than 10.8 carats), including four diamonds greater than 100 carats.
The 472-carat diamond will be sold alongside other exceptional stones at a tender set to take place later this year, Thomas said.
A co-founder of Lucara, Thomas took over as CEO in February, when William Lamb retired and stepped down from the board of directors.
That same month, the company announced the acquisition of Clara, a digital rough diamond sales platform that combines proprietary analytics with cloud and blockchain technologies.
Lucara said it is on schedule to begin applying the technology to diamonds from Karowe in August.
The Latest

The 2025 Australian Open champion is the jewelry brand’s first athlete ambassador.

The West Village jewelry boutique’s new shop-in-shop is the cornerstone of Nordstrom’s revamped jewelry hall.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

The brand’s “Golden Strada” statement necklace features round, marquise, and pear diamonds that sparkle like Fourth of July fireworks.


JSA’s Scott Guginsky provided a list of nine security measures jewelers should observe while locking up for the long weekend.

Located on Rodeo Drive, the store’s design was inspired by Hollywood and Los Angeles culture.

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

The new location continues the brand’s celebration of its 25th anniversary.

The online watch marketplace’s “Time Is Our Thing” campaign highlights the importance of time.

Working with Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit and law enforcement, Pandora helped to shut down a large-scale counterfeit network in China.

The jewelry company has closed its three California brick-and-mortar stores, as well as its online shop, for now.

The company is providing the opportunity for an FIT student to work alongside master diamond cutter Willie Lopez in its workshop.

He is remembered for his successful entrepreneurship, generosity, and dedication to his family.

The jewelry store chain has reportedly been struggling with costs related to tariffs as well as tough retail competition.

Welcome warm summer days with red hot rubies perfectly chosen as July’s birthstone.

Co-founders Afzal Imram and Lin Ruiyin brought their son’s story of a cosmic egg, toadstool, and railroad to life in their new collection.

The best time to prepare for the holiday season is right now, according to columnist Emmanuel Raheb.

This year’s winner is Morgan Keefe, who is currently studying at GIA to be a gemologist.

“The Jewelry Book” comes out this September.

The company is focused on modernizing the custom jewelry buying experience with e-commerce tools like product visualization and 3D styling.

Following its recent acquisition, the storied brand has updated its leadership team and regional managers.

AGS also named the recipient of its “Women in Leadership” scholarship.

The 20-karat yellow gold and diamond wrap ring is modeled after the Monstera plants in the garden of the brand’s Miami villa.

Rocksbox President Allison Vigil shared the retailer’s expansion plans, and her thoughts on opening stores in malls.

The creator of the WJA Chicago chapter is remembered as a champion for women in the jewelry industry and a loving grandmother.

The decline was consistent across age groups and almost all income groups, with tariffs and inflation still top of mind.