Gemfields Recovers its Biggest Ever Emerald

Gemfields has recovered a huge 11,685-carat (2.3kg) emerald – the biggest from its Kagem mine, Zambia, and possibly the biggest in the world.

The gemstone, called Imboo (the ‘buffalo’ in the local Bemba and Lamba dialects), eclipses the 7,525-carat Chipembele (the ‘rhino’), which was recovered at Kagem in July 2021, and which was recognized by Guinness World Records in April 2022 as the largest uncut emerald crystal recovered from a mine.

In January 2025, Almighty Gems in Coimbatore, India, displayed what it described as a record-breaking single emerald stone weighing 53,750 carats.  But it has yet to be officially verified by an independent authority.

The newly-recovered Imboo emerald is being offered for sale at the Gemfields auction in Bangkok which runs until 11 September.

Jackson Mtonga, grading manager at the Kagem sort house, said: “In my 30 years at Kagem, I’ve rarely seen such a remarkable formation of large, high-quality crystals.  This is a true masterpiece carved by nature’s hand.”

Imboo was discovered at Kagem’s Chama pit on 3 August by geologist Dharanidhar Seth, and Justin Banda, a veteran chiseller.

Source: DCLA

Historic Emerald Necklace Sells for $6.2m

A 275-year-old carved emerald necklace from the Mughal Empire sold for $6.2m, more than double its high estimate, at Christie’s New York.

It is made of five Colombian emeralds, with a combined weight of 1,178.50 carats (8.3oz/235g) on gold and magenta cords.

Three are carved hexagonal – the largest is 470 carat and inscribed “Ahmad Shah Durr-i Durran” (Pearl of Pearls) – and two are carved pear-shaped.

The necklace once belonged to Nader Shah, one of the most powerful rulers in Iranian history, and one-time owner of the Koh-i-Noor diamond.

He seized the necklace after capturing Delhi in 1739 and taking control of the royal treasury of the Mughal Empire, which ruled much of the Indian subcontinent from 1526 to 1857.

The necklace carried a pre-sale estimate of $2m to $3m.

Source: DCLA