Lesedi la Letšeng - 2008
478 carat
Sold for US$18.4 million
The Lesedi la Letšeng, which translates to Light of Letšeng, reflecting the diamond’s remarkable colour and clarity, was recovered in September 2008. This diamond was the third significant recovery from the Letšeng mine in as many years and was sold in November 2008 for US$18.4 million (during the height of the global financial crisis).
The fame of this diamond extends further in that it revealed a 102 carat round-shaped, D colour, internally flawless diamond, making it the largest round-shaped polished diamond ever to be graded D colour internally flawless by the Geomological Institute of America (GIA). A total of 10 exquisite polished diamonds were also revealed.