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.
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.
A 6.21-carat pink diamond will be the star of the second jewelry auction Phillips will hold in Geneva, where it is expected to fetch up to CHF 13.6 million ($15 million).
The fancy-vivid-pink, VS1-clarity, type IIa diamond ring is among several important and rare pieces on offer at the sale, called Geneva Jewels Auction: Two, which will take place on May 13, Phillips said Tuesday. The auction will be at the Hotel President Geneva for the first time, and it will include over 100 specially curated items from well-knowns design houses such as Cartier, JAR, Suzanne Belperron, and Van Cleef & Arpels.
Prior to the sale, Phillips will exhibit the jewels in New York; London; Taipei, Taiwan; and Singapore. The auction house will also hold a simultaneous selling exhibition called “Symbols, Colour and Form,” which will feature jewels from contemporary designers Alix Dumas and DYNE.
Here are the rest of the of the top five items Phillips will feature at the main sale:
This 280.84-carat Colombian emerald is from a private collection. Known as The Amazon Queen, it carries an estimate of CHF 1.4 million to CHF 2.4 million ($1.5 million to $2.6 million).A 27.27-carat, fancy-vivid-yellow diamond ring will also go under the hammer. It is expected to bring in between CHF 1 million and CHF 1.8 million ($1.1 million to $2 million).A pair of earrings set with pear-shaped, D-flawless, type IIa diamonds weighing 10.07 and 10.12 carats has a presale price range of CHF 1.2 million to CHF 1.6 million ($1.3 million to $1.8 million).Phillips will offer this brilliant-cut, 1.56-carat, fancy-red Argyle diamond at the Geneva auction. Named The Argyle Phoenix, it is estimated at CHF 910,000 to CHF 1.4 million ($1 million to $1.5 million).
