Messika unveils rare blue diamond from Botswana

The jewelry house Messika has unveiled its new High Jewelry collection, ‘Terres de Contrastes,’ centered around an exceptional blue diamond named ‘Austral Blue.’ The stone originated from the Orapa mine in Botswana in 2018 as a 41.11-carat rough diamond.

After years of study and cutting, the diamond was transformed into a 20.46-carat gem with a ‘fancy deep blue’ color and VVS1 clarity. It is recognized as the largest and rarest blue diamond recorded in Botswana and the eighth-largest blue diamond discovered globally. The piece features a contemporary ‘rivière’ setting with 500 white diamonds designed to create a sense of weightlessness.

The collection draws aesthetic inspiration from Botswana’s diverse landscapes, including the Okavango Delta, the Kalahari Desert, and the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.