Lucara DiamondCorp. said May 9 that the 812.77 carat, Type IIa diamond from the mine in Botswana, was soldfor US$63.1 million, or US$77,649 per carat.

The company will also retain a 10% interest in the net profitreceived from the sale of the polished stones. The rough diamond was named The Constellation.

According to Lucara President and CEO William Lamb, it is the"highest price ever achieved for a rough diamond, breaking all records."

The sale of Lucara's 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona diamond willtake place at Sotheby's London on June 29, Lamb added. Its discoverywas announced at the same time as The Constellation's, and the stone is the world'ssecond-largest gem-quality diamond ever recovered. Only the Cullinan, discoveredin South Africa in 1905, weighed more, at over 3,100 carats.

Lucara's specialtender in mid-April of diamonds from Karowe generated gross revenuesof US$51.3 million, or US$33,632 per carat.