The Lesotho Promise, a 603 carat (121 g) diamond stone of exceptional colour was unearthed on 22 August 2006[1] at the Letseng diamond mine in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho.
The stone is rated 'D', the top colour band for diamonds.
The diamond was sold at an auction on 9 October 2006 in Antwerp, Belgium, for US$12.4 million.
[3] The buyer, The South African Diamond Corporation (SAFDICO), expected to sell the diamond for more than US$20 million after cutting.
In all, twenty-six stones were fashioned from the rough gem, figuring as seven pear shapes, four emerald cuts, thirteen round brilliants and one heart shape.