Botswana’s spectacular 2,488-carat Motswedi diamond has found a buyer nearly two years after it was unearthed at the country’s renowned Karowe Diamond Mine, ending a long period of speculation surrounding the fate of one of the largest diamonds ever discovered.
Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp., which operates the Karowe mine, disclosed the sale in its second-quarter results.
The buyer and purchase price, however, have not been publicly revealed.
Industry reports said the transaction was completed during the second quarter of 2026, with the stone changing hands for an undisclosed amount.
Motswedi was recovered in August 2024 using Lucara’s advanced Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray Transmission technology, designed to identify and preserve exceptionally large diamonds.
Initially reported at about 2,492 carats, subsequent gemological examination established its weight at 2,488.32 carats.
The Gemological Institute of America confirmed that it is the second-largest diamond ever recovered, surpassed only by the historic 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond discovered in South Africa in 1905.
The diamond was named Motswedi, a Setswana word associated with a spring or underground source of water that rises to the surface.
Its discovery generated worldwide attention and raised questions about whether the enormous stone would be cut into smaller gems, displayed in a museum or preserved in its original rough form.
The delay in finding a buyer reflected the extraordinary nature of the stone.
Unlike ordinary commercial diamonds, a historic rough diamond of this magnitude cannot easily be valued using conventional per-carat price lists.
Its ultimate worth depends heavily on rarity, quality, potential for cutting, provenance and the strategic interest of wealthy collectors or institutions.
Before the sale, several museums and potential private collectors had reportedly shown interest in acquiring Motswedi, intensifying speculation over its eventual destination.
For Botswana, the sale represents another significant chapter in the country’s long association with diamonds.
The precious-stone industry has played a central role in Botswana’s economy and helped transform the country into one of Africa’s leading diamond-producing nations.
Although the financial details of the Motswedi transaction remain confidential,
its sale marks the conclusion of a remarkable journey from its discovery deep beneath Botswana’s soil to international gemological examination and, finally, a new undisclosed owner.
