Botswana’s state-owned Okavango Diamond Company on Wednesday displayed a 20-carat gemstone on that it said was the largest blue diamond ever discovered in the country, one of the world’s top producers of natural stones.

Blue diamonds are sought after for their colour and rarity. The 45-carat Hope Diamond is probably the best known.

VVS2 clarity

The company, known as ODC, announced the discovery of the Okavango Blue, a polished oval-cut stone, at an event in Botswana’s capital, Gaborone.

It said the stone was graded “fancy blue” with VVS2 clarity, meaning that it contains only minute imperfections.

“Only a handful of similar blue stones have come to market during the last decade, of which the Okavango Blue rightfully takes its place as one of the most significant,” said Managing Director Marcuster Haar.

According to Hindu Business Line, the Okavango Blue was discovered last year at the Orapa mine, operated by Debswana, a joint venture between Anglo American’s De Beers and Botswana.