One of the largest gemstones found in a Russian deposit since the fall of the USSR.
The Russian region of Arkhangelsk has experienced an unusual moment with the discovery of one of the largest diamonds mined in Russia since the fall of the USSR. A moment of celebration followed the discovery of the 340-carat diamond at the AGD Diamonds mine, known as Vladimir Grib.
According to the region’s governor, Alexandr Tsibulski, the gemstone was found on Monday at the Russian mine. The diamond measures 50 x 39.4 x 24.8 millimetres.
“According to preliminary results, experts classified the crystal as a rare diamond, characterised by its exceptional purity and high transparency. These diamonds represent 2% of all natural stones,”
The largest diamond in the world
Although the discovery in Arkhangelsk has brought joy to the region due to the size of the gemstone found, the Russian region is still far from the discovery of the second largest diamond in the world at the African deposit in Botswana. This is the ‘Motswedi’, a 2,488-carat rough diamond weighing approximately half a kilo, which was discovered recently.
Margot Donquier, director of public relations at HB Antwerp, the firm responsible for studying and marketing the gem, admits that ‘it is very difficult to determine its price’. To determine the value of the Montswedi, the firm must examine the stone and see what can be obtained from it once it has been polished.
Montswedi is part of a set of four diamonds discovered in the same mine in Botswana, run by the Canadian company Lucara Diamond in partnership with HB Antwerp. Among the four diamonds that make up the collection is the third largest in the world, found in the Karowe deposit.
