https://gemfields.com/gemfields-introduces-inkalamu-the-5655-carat-lion-emerald/
Rare 5,655 carat Emerald discovered in Zambia
Gemfields recently announced the discovery of ‘Inkalamu’ – the Lion Emerald – a 5,655 carat Zambian emerald crystal with remarkable clarity and a perfectly balanced golden green hue.
https://gemfields.com/gemfields-introduces-inkalamu-the-5655-carat-lion-emerald/
Gemfields Group announced that they found a 5,655 carat Emerald in Zambia.
The Emerald was discovered at Kagem, the world’s largest emerald mine, which is 75% owned by Gemfields and 25% by the Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia (which belongs in turn to the Government of the Republic of Zambia).
They announced the discovery of ‘Inkalamu’ – or the ‘Lion Emerald’ on 29 October. The Emerald crystal is said to have “remarkable clarity and a perfectly balanced golden green hue”.
The statement continues:
“Inkalamu was discovered in the eastern part of Kagem’s largest open-pit mine on 2 October 2018 by geologist Debapriya Rakshit and veteran emerald miner Richard Kapeta, who has more than a decade of experience mining Zambian emeralds for the Gemfields group.
“This area of the mine has proven to be particularly fertile in recent months with the Kagem team recovering several significant crystals there, but none with the combined size, color and clarity of the Lion Emerald. The naming of uncut emeralds is a tradition reserved for the rarest and most remarkable gems. While no official records exist, perhaps two dozen have merited their own name and with the majority weighing less than 1,000 carats. Gemfields last named an emerald in 2010 when it unveiled the ‘Insofu’ or ‘elephant’ emerald.”
The Lion Emerald will be offered for sale at Gemfields’ next auction in Singapore in November 2018 to approximately 45 approved auction partners, chosen by Gemfields for their shared values in responsible practices.
In contrast to the diamond industry, the price for exceptionally large emeralds like Inkalamu is particularly difficult to predict. The Lion Emerald will most likely be offcut into smaller gems, but this will ultimately be up to the buyer.
A rare combination:
The emeralds found in Gemfields’ Kagem mine were formed more than 450 million years ago when a rare combination of in situ minerals and surging magma from deep within the Earth’s crust encountered one another and supported just the right conditions for emerald crystal growth.
“The discovery of this exceptional gemstone is such an important moment both for us and for the emerald world in general,” commented Elena Basaglia, Gemfields’ dynamic London-based gemmologist. “We are experiencing strikingly increased demand for high-quality Zambian emeralds from the major brands, particularly in Europe, all of whom admire the rich colour and unique transparency of our gems – qualities that make them unique among emeralds. It’s difficult to estimate how many individual gems will be cut from Inkalamu, but the cutting expertise of Gemfields’ auction partners will mean that this gemstone will make its mark in the history books of exceptional gemstones. This lion’s resulting offspring – ‘The Pride of Inkalamu’ so to speak – will continue the legacy for generations to come!”
Gemfields introduces 'Inkalamu', the 5,655 carat Lion Emerald! Head over to our post on Instagram for more details – https://t.co/qLAdjZdrBZ pic.twitter.com/g5JdONUEYr
— Gemfields (@GemfieldsLtd) October 29, 2018
