GIA Examines the World’s Second Largest Diamond
Motswedi, a water spring or source in Setswana language of Botswana In July 2025, staff from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), including GIA Executive Vice President and Chief Research and Laboratory Officer Tom Moses and Vice President of Research and Development Dr. Wuyi Wang, examined a rough diamond weighing 2,488.32 carats—nearly 1.10 pounds (0.498 kilograms)—at the Institute’s laboratory in Gaborone, Botswana. “This is undoubtedly a diamond of great historical importance,” said Tom Moses. “I have been fortunate to examine many significant, large and very rare diamonds, but I have never seen a gem quality diamond of nearly this size.” Recovered in August 2024 by the Lucara Diamond Corporation at the Karowe diamond mine in Botswana, this diamond is second in size only to the legendary 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, which was found in South Africa 120 years ago. Weighing 2,492 carats at recovery and generally ...