The United States and Britain have imposed sanctions on Russia's Alrosa, the world's largest producer of rough diamonds, which accounted for around 30% of global output last year, and is partly state-owned. 

The white diamond, found over the weekend, is third one over 100 carats recovered this year at the company's mine in Lesotho.

It is the third diamond of over 100 carats recovered from the Letšeng mine within the past three weeks.

Workers had been tunnelling underground at a mine near the provincial capital Tshikapa when an accident occurred.

The company is subject to stinging economic sanctions levied by the West against Russia for its war in Ukraine.

With Russian gold and diamonds off-limits due to the war in Ukraine, makers of luxury jewelry and watches are finding it more difficult to secure raw materials.

The white diamond is only the second one over 100 carats recovered this year at Letšeng, the world’s highest dollar per carat mine.