A record-breaking 5655 carat emerald weighing more than a kilogram was discovered in Zambia, at the Kagem mine, owned by the British gem company Gemfields. The stone, named Inkalamu, will be auctioned in November.
A $ 2.5 million emerald was discovered in Zambia at the Kagem mine, owned by Gemfields, a London-based gem producer. The 5655-carat stone was found by the geologist Debapriya Rakshit and the experienced miner Richard Capeta. The stone was named by the owners of Inkalamu, which means "lion," as the company is doing a lot to preserve wildlife in the region. Experts describe the extraordinary emerald as possessing "remarkable clarity and an absolutely harmonious golden hue."
“We are currently seeing an unusually fast growing demand for high quality Zambian emeralds from major brands, especially European ones,” says Elena Basaglia, gemologist at Gemfields. “They admire the richness of color and the unique clarity of our stones - properties that set them apart from other emeralds. It is difficult to say how many stones can be made from Inkalamu. The stone will be examined by auctioneers - partners of our company and will undoubtedly deserve a place in history among other outstanding stones."
It has already been announced that the stone will be sold at a private auction in Singapore. Before being sent to Southeast Asia, the stone will be packed and sealed in the presence of the Zambian authorities. For the first time, it will be unpacked at the auction, in front of the bidders.
Previously, Gemfields only twice named the stones found. The last time this happened was in 2010, when the Insofu ("Elephant") emerald was found. The 6,225 carat stone was sold to an Indian firm in the capital of Zambia, Lusaka. The price of the deal was not disclosed.
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Appreciating these stones is not easy as they can be cut into many pieces to make precious jewelry, or they can be preserved in their original size. At the moment, the retail price of a quality emerald is just over $ 500. This means that the Inkalamu emerald cut into small stones will cost at least $ 2.5 million.