The diamond found is an ultra-rare type IIb stone, which constitutes less than one tenth of one percent of all natural diamonds. According to the Naturaldiamonds website, these stones are characterized by an almost complete lack of nitrogen and the presence of trace amounts of boron, which gives them a characteristic blue hue.
A diamond trader from Johannesburg, Gregory Katz, said in an interview with News24 that: the value of the stone may be from 30 to 40 million dollars. According to him, the rarity and unique characteristics of this gem make it extremely desirable on the market.
The found diamond belongs to the ultra-rare type IIb stones. It weighs almost 42 carats.
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Petra Diamonds / Petra Diamonds
Cullinan Mine – a diamond legend
The Cullinan Mine, operating since 1902, is known for producing some of the most spectacular diamonds in history.
It was there that the famous Cullinan diamond was discovered in 1905 – the largest rough, jewelry-quality diamond ever found. After cutting, it was created into nine main gems, some of which adorn the British Crown Jewels.
Read also: The luxury market giant bought the world's second largest diamond
The symbolic meaning of these stones makes them one of the most important elements of the legacy of the British monarchy.
Cullinan Mine
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Petra Diamonds / Petra Diamonds
Crisis in the diamond industry
The discovery of such a valuable stone comes at a difficult time for the diamond industry. The market is struggling with the growing popularity of laboratory-grown diamonds, which are much cheaper than their natural counterparts. Petra Diamonds reported in October that the average price of their rough diamonds had dropped by 13%, a clear signal of the crisis in the sector.
Read also: A record discovery in Russia. It is the largest jeweler-quality diamond
