Sotheby’s is to auction the 1,109-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, according to a press release from the auction house. The sales estimated for the diamond is in excess of US$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, and is around the size of a tennis ball.
“The Lesedi la Rona is simply outstanding and its discovery is the find of a lifetime. It is a huge honor 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,” enthuses Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Division David Bennett.
“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,” adds Lucara Diamond Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer William Lamb.
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.
