Sotheby’s to offer “Lesedi la Rona” in stand-alone sale

Sotheby’s is placing on offer the 1109-carat “Lesedi la Rona” – the largest gem-quality rough diamond to be discovered in over a century and the largest rough diamond in existence today – in a stand-alone sale in London on 29 June 2016.

Around the size of a tennis ball (measuring approximately 66.4 x 55 x 42 mm), this colossal rough diamond of exceptional transparency and quality is around 2.5 to over 3 billion years old. It is estimated to achieve in excess of $70 million. The Lesedi la Rona (“Our Light” in the Tswana language spoken in Botswana) was uncovered by Lucara Diamond Corp. in November 2015, at their Karowe mine in Botswana. IN the multitude diamond discoveries in the world, nothing of the size and quality of Lesedi La Rona has been found in over 100 years. In terms of its size, the rough is exceeded only by the legendary Cullinan Diamond, mined in South Africa in 1905.

According to a study by the Gemological Institute of America, the Lesedi La Rona’s “top colour and transparency exemplify the “limpid” appearance commonly associated with type IIa diamonds”. Independent reports on the potential yield of the rough have also stated that the Lesedi la Rona may have the potential to yield the largest top-quality diamond that has ever been cut and polished. These reports have also stated that there is a high probability that the resulting polished diamonds will be “D” colour – the highest colour classification for white diamonds.

David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Division, commented: “The Lesedi la Rona is simply outstanding and its discovery is the find of a lifetime. It is a huge honour for Sotheby’s to have been entrusted with its sale. Every aspect of this auction is unprecedented. Not only is the rough superlative in size and quality, but no rough even remotely of this scale has ever been offered before at public auction”.

William Lamb, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lucara Diamond Corp., said: “We are very excited to be partnering with Sotheby’s on this landmark auction. Lucara has made innovation the cornerstone of its development strategy and this has led to the historic recovery of the Lesedi La Rona diamond. The forthcoming sale presents a unique opportunity to present this extraordinary diamond to a worldwide audience.” The Lesedi la Rona will be on view at Sotheby’s New York on 7 May, and at Sotheby’s London from 18 until 28 June, ahead of its auction in the evening of 29 June.