Lesotho Discovers Exceptionally Rare Giant Pink Diamond

Late in March, Lesotho, a small country surrounded by South Africa, announced the discovery of a “spectacular fancy intense pink diamond.” With a weight of 108.39 carats, the diamond is believed to be one of the largest pink diamonds in history. Storm Mountain Diamonds, which is owned by Namakwa Diamonds Limited and the Government of Lesotho, has described the diamond as “exceptionally rare” due to its Type IIa classification, which means it has few or no impurities.

The diamond was discovered in the Butha-Buthe district, at the Kao mine. The mine is known for producing some of the world’s most exceptional pink diamonds, such as the Pink Eternity (47.81 carats) in 2022, the Pink Dawn (25.97 carats), and the Pink Palesa (21.68 carats) in 2021, and the Rose of Kao (29.59 carats) in 2018. Storm Mountain has reported that the latest diamond breaks the company’s own records at the Kao mine, which mines Lesotho’s largest kimberlite pipe.

Pink diamonds are more rare than white diamonds and command higher prices. The 11.15-carat Williamson Pink Star was sold to a private collector in 2022 for a record price per carat of $57.7 million (over R1 billion). This emphasises the value of such rare diamonds and the potential significance of the recent Lesotho discovery.

Mohlomi Moleko, the Lesotho Minister of Natural Resources, has described the diamond as “one of the most significant diamonds discovered in Lesotho to date.” This announcement comes just months after the discovery of the Lulo Rose, the largest pink diamond discovered in 300 years, which weighed 170 carats and was discovered in Angola. The Daria-i-Noor, one of Iran’s national jewels, is thought to be the largest portion of a larger diamond that was cut into two pieces and weighs 185 carats.

Lesotho’s recent discovery strengthens the country’s reputation as a producer of exceptional diamonds, and it is likely that this latest find will pique the interest of buyers and collectors. The diamond has not yet been named, but given its rarity and size, it is expected to fetch a high price. The Lesotho government, which owns a stake in Storm Mountain Diamonds, stands to gain significantly from the sale of the diamond.

Finally, the recent discovery of an extremely rare giant pink diamond in Lesotho has captured the world’s attention. The diamond is thought to be one of the largest pink diamonds ever discovered, and its discovery adds to Lesotho’s reputation as a producer of exceptional diamonds. The diamond’s potential sale is likely to pique the interest of buyers and collectors, and it is expected to fetch a high price given its rarity and size.