The document summarizes several of the largest diamonds ever discovered, including the Lesedi La Rona (1109 carats), discovered in Botswana in 2015. It also discusses the Cullinan (3106 carats) from South Africa, considered the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found. Additionally, it mentions the Sergio (3167 carats), the largest diamond ever found but composed of carbonado, an obscure diamond variety.

1. By Ehud Arye Laniado
www.ehudlaniado.com
A Tour of the World’s
Largest Diamonds

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Presentation by Ehud Arye Laniado
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The discovery of the second-largest gem-quality diamond ever recovered
recently made headlines across media outlets around the world. The 1,109 carat
white diamond was discovered at the Karowe mine in Botswana, owned and
operated by the Canadian-based Lucara Diamond Corporation. As is customary
with most large diamonds, the stone was given a name, which was determined
through a public contest open to all citizens of the country. After deliberation, the
magnificent stone was named “Lesedi La Rona,” meaning “Our Light” in
Botswana’s Setswana language.
A link to the full article can be found on the
last slide of the presentation
April 2016
The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity. None of the information made
available here shall constitute in any manner an offer or invitation or promotion to buy or to sell diamonds. No one
should act upon any opinion or information in this website (including with respect to diamonds values) without
consulting a professional qualified adviser.

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A Tour of the World’s Most Famous Large Diamonds
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Just a few months later, Lucapa Diamond Company, a small
miner headquartered in Australia, announced the recovery of
a 404-carat diamond from its Lulu mine in Angola. This gem
is the largest ever found in Angola and the 27th largest
diamond ever found. With advanced recovery technology,
these finds will likely continue. However, they are still
exceptionally rare. In my next series of articles, I will take a
closer look at some of these large diamond discoveries
throughout history, as well as the beautiful finished gems they
have produced.
April 2016

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A Tour of the World’s Most Famous Large Diamonds
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The Sergio
Although the Cullinan diamond is often given
credit as the largest rough diamond ever
discovered, the truth is that a larger ‘carbonado’
diamond was found in Brazil in 1895. The
original rough stone weighed 3,167 carats.
Although a form of diamond, carbonados are
extremely rare and resemble charcoal in their
rough form. They have been found in just two
locations: in the Central African Republic and in
Brazil.

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A Tour of the World’s Most Famous Large Diamonds
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Scientists are divided on both the origin of carbonados and their proper
classification as diamonds. These stones have never been found alongside
the other minerals that are typically discovered with diamonds and that are
formed in the diamond stability zone within the upper mantle.
Some have theorized that carbonados must have an extra-terrestrial source,
possibly from fragments of an ancient supernova that rained down upon the
earth hundreds of millions of years ago. The theory remains popular, as Brazil
and CAR would have sat side by side on the ancient Pangaea supercontinent
some 300 million years ago. Although very rare, carbonados are coveted for
their use in industrial applications because they are even harder than natural
diamonds and are resistant to cleaving.
The Sergio, along with many other large carbonados, including one in excess
of 2,000 carats, have arguably not been given their proper place in history.
For now, we will focus on clear gem-quality diamonds in our discussion.

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A Tour of the World’s Most Famous Large Diamonds
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The Cullinan
Perhaps the most famous of all gem-quality
diamonds is the Cullinan. The Cullinan diamond
was found by a miner named Thomas Evan Powell,
who brought it to the surface and gave it to
Frederick Wells, surface manager of the Premier
Diamond Mining Company in Cullinan, South
Africa, on 26 January 1905. It weighed 3,106.75
carats, or approximately 621 grams. The stone was
immediately named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, the
owner of the diamond mine, who had discovered
the mine after many years of unsuccessful
searching.

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A Tour of the World’s Most Famous Large Diamonds
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Lesedi La Rona
The history of the 1,109 carat Lesedi La Rona
diamond has not yet been written, but the
stone has attracted headlines around the
world. At present, the stone has not been
sold, and owner Lucara Diamond Corporation
is said to be looking at various ways in which
to sell the diamond. It is possible that this
diamond will never be cut, instead being kept
in its rough form as the largest rough gem in
existence.

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A Tour of the World’s Most Famous Large Diamonds
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Excelsior
The Excelsior was for 12 years the largest rough
diamond ever found, until the Cullinan was
discovered 600 kilometers to the north. The
Excelsior was unearthed in 1893 at the Jagersfontein
mine in South Africa. The 995-carat white stone was
found in a shovelful of gravel that was being loaded
onto a truck. The worker decided not to present the
stone to his line manager, and instead took the stone
directly to the mine manager and was rewarded for
his discretion with £500 and a horse and bridle.

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A Tour of the World’s Most Famous Large Diamonds
8April 2016
Star of Sierra Leone
The Star of Sierra Leone was discovered by miners
on February 14, 1972 in the Diminco alluvial mines in
the Koidu area of Sierra Leone. The gravels of the
Woylie River have produced numerous large
diamond finds in the more than 70 years of diamond
mining in the area. At 968.9 carats (193.78g), the
Star of Sierra Leone ranks as the fourth largest gem-
quality diamond, and the largest alluvial diamond,
ever discovered.

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A Tour of the World’s Most Famous Large Diamonds
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Incomparable
The Incomparable was found in the town of Mbuji
Mayi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly
Zaire) in 1984. The 890-carat amber colored stone
was found by a young girl in a pile of rubble from the
nearby MIBA Diamond Mine which was considered
too coarse to possess any diamonds. The diamond
changed hands several times. It passed through the
possession of De Beers before being sold to a small
syndicate of prominent diamond experts including
Donald Zale, chairman of the Zale Corporation,
Marvin Samuels of the Premier Gem Corporation,
and Louis Glick, a New York diamantaire.

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The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity. No one should act upon any opinion
or information in this website without consulting a professional qualified adviser.
A full version of the article can be found here:
http://www.ehudlaniado.com/home/index.php/news/entry/a-tour-of-the-world-s-most-
famous-large-diamonds
April 2016
A Tour of the World’s Most Famous Large Diamonds