Big Diamond in Little Lesotho

There's been a deluge of diamond delights for the jewelry hound to bite into lately - from the Wittelsbach/Hope display at the Smithsonian to the rare pink diamond that's sure to set price records at Sotheby's later this month.

So it was almost too much to read about the whopper of a rough diamond found in the small African kingdom of Lesotho this week. Like eating a pint of New York Super Fudge Chunk is too much after a pizza delivery. Or watching Joan Rivers on E! is too much after ....actually, I'll just leave it at Miss Joan.

But I don't MAKE the diamond news, folks - I just drool over it.

So, listen. Can you imagine unearthing a 185-carat diamond and just, like, handing it over to your boss at the mine? Well, some poor Lesotho subject did just that last week - and Gem Diamonds got to boast of their second big diamond find in as many months.


According to miningweekly.com, Gem Diamonds' Letšeng mine has produced a number of exceptional diamonds since they acquired the operation in 2006 - including the 603-ct(!) Lesotho Promise, the 493-ct Letšeng Legacy and the 478-ct Light of Letšeng that sold for $12.4-million, $10.4-million and $18.4-million, respectively.

Pass the New York Super Fudge Chunk, Mary. I need to sit down.

This particular stone is expected to yield top color and top clarity once polished, the company said in a release - and could yield between $7 million and $10 million.

I'll have a large pepperoni, extra cheese - - and...yeah, throw in the cheesy bread....