Diamond producer Rio Tinto announced the find earlier this week, describing it as one of the largest fancy colour yellow diamonds in Canada. It’s one of five diamonds larger than 100 carats discovered at the Diavak Mine over the past two decades.
Patrick Coppens, general manager of sales and marketing for Rio Tinto, said it would be a diamond to watch in the years to come.
“The beauty and purity of Diavik diamonds continue to excite passions amongst all who see them, and we look forward to following the onward journey of this very special diamond,” he said.
The Diavik Mine is expected to close next year. The site generally produced white diamonds, with fewer than 1 per cent consisting of yellow fancy colour diamonds.
Other notable discoveries include a 552-carat yellow diamond in 2018 and the 187-carat Diavik Foxfire in 2015.
• At an upcoming Phillips auction in Geneva, a 53-carat yellow diamond is expected to return heads with a presale estimate of $USD3.5 million ($AUD5.57 million).
The fancy vivid yellow diamond is internally flawless and set in a pendant. It will appear at the Geneva Jewels Auction: IV on 12 May.
The auction will feature jewellery from various well-known designers, including Bulgari, Cartier, Graff, and Van Cleef & Arpels.
Phillips will showcase key pieces from the sale in Hong Kong, New York, Singapore, and London before the auction.
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