Gemfields Unearths 5,655ct. Emerald

RAPAPORT… Gemfields has recovered a 5,655-carat emerald at its
Kagem mine in Zambia, it said Monday.



“The discovery of this exceptional gemstone is such an
important moment both for us and for the emerald world in general,” said Elena
Basaglia, a gemologist at Gemfields in London. “We are experiencing strikingly
increased demand for high-quality Zambian emeralds from the major brands,
particularly in Europe.”


The emerald has “remarkable clarity and a perfectly
balanced golden-green hue,” Gemfields noted. Geologist Debapriya Rakshit and
veteran miner Richard Kapeta found it on October 2 in the eastern part of Kagem’s
largest open-pit mine, from which the company has unearthed several significant stones
recently.


Gemfields named the stone the Inkalamu, or Lion Emerald, in
honor of two of its conservation partners — the Zambian Carnivore Programme and
the Niassa Carnivore Project. It will sell the piece at its next auction
in Singapore in November, and donate 10% of the proceeds to those groups, it
said.


“We expect a number of large, fine-quality cut emeralds
to be borne of the Inkalamu crystal,” added Adrian Banks, Gemfields’ managing
director for product and sales. “These important pieces are what return value
to the buyer, and there might be hundreds of offcuts that are fashioned into
smaller gems, cabochons and beads, but the key lies in recovering the fine-quality
pieces. Given this emerald is such a rare find, it is also perfectly
conceivable that the buyer will choose to purchase it as an investment.”


Gemfields will use Gübelin Gem Lab’s traceability program,
Provenance Proof, to ensure the emerald’s origins remain identifiable, it
added. All smaller stones cut from the Inkalamu will also carry the tracking
technology.


Image: The 5,655-carat emerald. (Gemfields)