Australian miners unearth a rare pure pink diamond believed to be the biggest found in 300 YEARS – and it’s set to sell for an eye-watering price at auction
- Largest pink diamond found in 300 years discovered in Angola in Central Africa
- 170 carat diamond, dubbed the ‘Lulo Rose’ was found at Australian-operated site
- Stone will sell to international buyer with record price at auction $US71.2million
- True size of record diamond to be revealed when the stone is cut and polished
Miners have stumbled upon the largest pink diamond found in 300 years.
The 170 carat diamond was discovered during excavations at the Lulo mine in Angola – an Australian-operated site in the southern region of Central Africa.
The true size of the raw stone, aptly named the ‘Lulo Rose’, will be revealed after it is cut and polished. A process that can sometimes reduce the size of a diamond by 50 per cent.
It will be likely be sold to an international buyer for tens of millions with pink diamonds having auction for up to $US70million in the past.
The 170 carat diamond (pictured) was discovered during excavations at the Lulo mine in Angola, an Australian-operated site in the southern region of Central Africa
The stone, dubbed the ‘The Lulo Rose’, is believed to be the largest raw pink diamond recovered in the last 300 years
‘This record and spectacular pink diamond continues to showcase Angola as an important player on the world stage for diamond mining and demonstrates the potential and rewards for commitment and investment in our growing diamond mining industry,’ Mineral Resources Minister Diamantino Azevedo said.
Dr José Manuel Ganga Júnior, Chairman of the Board of Endiama, said the diamond field had once again delivered a large and precious gemstone.
‘It is a significant day for the Angolan diamond industry and the long-standing partnership between Endiama, Lucapa and Rosas and Petalas,’ he said.
The diamond is the 27th stone of over 100 carats to be found in Angola’s diamond rich northeast and the fifth largest ever to be found at the site.
The diamond (pictured) is the 27th stone of over 100 carats to be found in Angola’s diamond rich northeast and the fifth largest ever to be found at the site
The record for the largest diamond ever discovered was a staggering 404 carats and later named the ‘4th February Stone’.
The ‘CTF Pink Star’ holds the current record for the price paid for a pink diamond at auction – with the 59.6 carat stone selling in Hong Kong for $71.2 million in 2017.
A 15.8 carat pink diamond set on a platinum and gold ring dubbed ‘The Sakura’, the Japanese word for cherry blossom, sold at auction for $US29.3million in May, 2021.
It was sold alongside ‘The Sweet Heart,’ a 4.2 carat heart-shaped pink diamond ring which ended up being sold for $US6.6million.
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