The second-largest diamond ever excavated has been found in a mine in Botswana.
The fist-sized stone has been measured at 2,492 carats, placing it second only to the Cullinan Diamond found in South Africa more than a century ago.
Experts have yet to fully grade the champagne-coloured rough diamond, but Lucara, the company that owns the mine, has described it as “high-quality”. Industry sources told The Telegraph it could fetch as much as £53 million.
The unnamed stone is due to be presented to the world at the office of Mokgweetsi Masisi, Botswana’s president, on Thursday. It is likely to be sold to a large jewellery or fashion house.