2nd Biggest Diamond in the World
You may have heard of the biggest diamond in the world, the Cullinan Diamond, which was discovered in 1905 in South Africa. But have you heard of the second-biggest diamond in the world? The sewelo diamond weighs in at a stunning 1,758 carats.
You won't find these gigantic diamonds in a jewelry store. The diamonds are too large to affix to a traditional ring or bracelet. But they are beautiful in their own right, and are virtually priceless. Recently, a new buyer stepped in to purchase the second-biggest diamond in the world.
Discovering the Great Sewelo Diamond
In 2019, the Lucara Diamond Corporation found the giant diamond while mining in Botswana. "Sewelo" translates to "rare find" in a language native to Botswana. The diamond is about as big as a tennis ball. Interestingly, the Antwerp diamond manufacturer HB Company claims that it's not clear if gems of this type are jewelry-quality. A somewhat surprising buyer stepped forward to purchase the diamond in early 2020.
Louis Vuitton Purchases 2nd-Biggest Diamond in the World
Fashion brand Louis Vuitton bought the sewelo diamond in January 2020. The company traditionally does not sell jewelry, but has since opening a flagship store in the jewelry district in Paris. Louis Vuitton plans to have the diamond polished and then cut to create an exclusive collection.
The purchase made headlines around the world, and will likely draw the attention that Louis Vuitton hopes for when selling the diamonds. By sparking interest and excitement, the brand can create demand for the diamonds. However, jewelers have pointed out that the quality of a sewelo diamond is not high, so discerning customers may be interested to see what the end products look like.
The History of Big Diamonds
The sewelo diamond replaced the former second-biggest diamond that was discovered in 2015. Lucara also mined that diamond, the Lesedi La Rona, which measured 1,109 carats. The Lesedi La Rona sold for $53 million, a price $10 million less than what was paid for an 813-carat produced by the same mine. Both were Type-IIa gems, which are more valuable than the sewelo diamond.
The biggest diamond, the Cullinan, weighs in at an unbelievable 3,106 carats. It was mined 18 feet underground, and initially the Transvaal provincial government purchased the stone. Later, the government gifted it to King Edward VII of Britain. When his chosen jeweler tried to cut the diamond, his blade broke. The largest stone to come out of that cut was a still-massive 530-carat.
Will Lucara find another giant diamond after uncovering the sewelo and Lesedi La Rona? It remains to be seen, but certainly interest in the Louis Vuitton jewelry will be high.
Shop Diamonds at Little Switzerland
Are you looking to find beautiful diamond jewelry right now? Little Switzerland has a range of options available. Contact us online or call (877) 800-9998 for more information about our jewelry.
