01 Apr 2026

The discovery of the second largest blue diamond to ever be recovered in Botswana is a sign that the country continues to offer quality natural diamonds which synthetic diamonds cannot compete with.

Ms Naseem Lahri, the managing director of Lucara Botswana Proprietary Limited echoed those sentiments while speaking to the media after presenting the blue diamond to President Advocate Duma Boko at the Office of the President on Wednesday.

The rare 36.92 carat blue Type IIB diamond was extracted from the Karowe Mine in Letlhakane, a premier open pit operation that has become well renowned for producing large, high quality Type IIA diamonds.

While acknowledging that certain diamond markets, particularly the United States of America (USA), had gradually shifted towards synthetic diamonds, Ms Lahri said Botswana should focus on a niche market of selling quality natural gemstones to consumers who prefer natural products.

“We are known for the large diamonds, and large recoveries in the world. At 36.92 carats, this is the largest blue diamond recovered by Lucara Botswana and the second largest blue diamond ever mined in the country. This could be valued at between 10 to 30 million US dollars, (approximately P136 million to P407 million),” Ms Lahri said.

She said the synthetic diamond industry was incapable of creating the type of large diamonds that have frequently been extracted in Botswana.

“They cannot compete with us on the large diamond market because they are incapable of creating them. These are rare finds and are very valuable. We (Lucara) are unique in that we do not participate in the American market, we focus on a market that is willing to buy natural diamonds and is willing to pay the price for them,” she said.

“For us it is about legacy, about heritage, experience and uniqueness, and a having a high network that is willing to invest in the natural gems,” Ms Lahri added.

The discovery of the country’s second biggest blue diamond after the Okavango Blue, the 20.46-carat, oval-shaped diamond discovered by Debswana at the Orapa Mine in 2018 further strengthens

Botswana’s global standing as a leading source of some of the world’s most remarkable natural gemstones.

The engagement with the President provided an opportunity for Lucara to highlight the significance of the discovery and the diamond sector’s continuing contribution to national economic growth and international prestige. ENDS