The world’s largest producer of green stones has unearthed a 5,655-carat emerald crystal at its mines in Zambia.
said in a statement Monday.
The emerald is being called “Inkalamu,” which means “lion” in the local Zambia Bemba language. It will be cut into smaller pieces and auctioned in Singapore in November.
It has “remarkable clarity and a perfectly balanced golden green hue,” the statement said.
The 5,655-carat Lion Emerald Credit: Gemfields
The stone was found in an open mine on October 2, by geologist Debapriya Rakshit and emerald miner Richard Kapeta.
in Zambia, Colombia, and Brazil.
Elena Basaglia, Gemfields’ gemologist, said there’s been increasing interest in Zambia’s emeralds, particularly from dealers in Europe.
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Two handwritten notes penned by Albert Einstein have been sold at auction for a combined $1.8 million. Credit: MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
“We are experiencing strikingly increased demand for high-quality Zambian emeralds from the major brands, particularly in Europe, all of whom admire the rich color and unique transparency of our gems — qualities that make them unique among emeralds,” Basaglia said.
“elephant” due to its massive size.
