Imagine stumbling across a gemstone so big and pure it feels like Mother Nature’s personal mic drop. That’s the Motswedi Diamond—a jaw-dropping 2,492-carat rough treasure pulled from Botswana’s Karowe Mine in 2024. Its name, “Motswedi,” means – water spring or flow of underground water- in Setswana, and it perfectly captures the energy and abundance this diamond brings to the world, and Botswana’s economy. The gem reflects not only natural beauty but also the ongoing success of Botswana’s sustainable diamond mining practices. The nation has long prioritized using diamond wealth to foster economic growth, education, and healthcare for its citizens.

Formation and Properties
How do you make something as legendary as the Motswedi? First, you take unimaginable heat and pressure which occurred billions of years ago deep in the Earth’s mantle. Them you add a sprinkle of luck, and voilà – nature forms a perfect, giant Type IIa diamond. This classification signifies the diamond’s exceptional natural rarity and lack of nitrogen impurities, making it more chemically and optically pure than over 98% of other natural diamonds. These rare gems are the VIPs of the diamond world; ultra-pure, nitrogen-free, and so clear they’d make glass jealous.
Appearance and Colors
The Motswedi in its natural form is a rough diamond that glimmers like it knows it’s special. Think of it as the celebrity who doesn’t need makeup to dazzle. Its near-colorless brilliance promises to transform into jaw-dropping polished stones that will probably make headlines, break records, and maybe end up in a museum or on someone’s very lucky hand.

History, Myths, and Legends
Diamonds have always been the stuff of legends, symbolizing everything from power to eternal love. While the Motswedi is too new for myths of its own (give it time!), its discovery echoes the grandeur of Botswana’s other famous gems, like the Lesedi La Rona (aka “our light”) and the Sewelo Diamond (meaning “rare find”) which can be seen in more detail here. In ancient lore, people thought diamonds were fragments of stars or tears of gods. If that’s true, the Motswedi is one seriously divine tear.
Countries of Origin
Botswana isn’t just casually good at finding diamonds – it’s world-class. The Karowe Mine, where the Motswedi was discovered, has been a hotspot for record-breaking gems. Thanks to its ethical mining practices, Botswana has transformed its diamond resources into schools, hospitals, and a brighter future. Talk about diamonds that give back!
The Motswedi is among the largest gem-quality diamonds ever found, joining the ranks of other legendary discoveries, including the world record holding Cullinan Diamond, also from Botswana. It showcases the Karowe Mine’s reputation for producing large, high-value stones using cutting-edge technology like X-ray transmission (XRT) sorting.

Fun Facts
- The Motswedi is bigger than a baseball and probably worth more than a private island.
- It’s one of the top 5 largest diamonds ever found—basically the Beyoncé of rocks.
- Advanced X-ray transmission technology helped spot it in the mine. Without it, this gem might still be hiding underground.
- If polished, it could become a record-breaking gemstone worth millions (or billions).
- Botswana is known as the “kingdom of diamonds,” producing over 20% of the world’s gem-quality stones.
Why It Matters
The Motswedi Diamond isn’t just a pretty rock – it’s a story of nature, technology, and human ingenuity coming together. Whether it ends up as a glittering centerpiece or stays in its natural form, this diamond is proof that the Earth still has some surprises up its sleeve. And let’s be honest: who doesn’t love a little sparkle with a great story behind it?
As with many high-profile diamond discoveries, the Motswedi will likely undergo careful evaluation and expert cutting to unlock its maximum value. Its journey will contribute to Botswana’s legacy as a key player in the global diamond industry while reinforcing its commitment to ethical mining and sustainable development.
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