Huge diamond found at Cullinan

Johannesburg - A 507 carat white diamond was discovered at the historic Cullinan mine, Petra Diamonds said on Tuesday.

The gemstone was found on September 24 and was with experts for analysis.

"Initial examinations indicate that it is of exceptional colour and clarity, and most likely to be a Type I diamond," the company said in a statement.

"Further details, including colour grading and clarity, will be released once the diamond has undergone appropriate analysis."

The diamond was discovered alongside three other special white stones of similar colour and clarity in the same production run,Petra Diamonds added.

Another very large stone of 168.00 carats and two other stones of 58.50 and 53.30 carats were found, the company said.

"At 507 carats (just over 100 grams) the diamond, which has yet to be named, is considered to be amongst the top 20 largest high quality rough diamonds ever found worldwide and ranks alongside other illustrious diamonds recovered at the celebrated Cullinan mine."

The company said that Cullinan had a special place in the history of diamonds as the source of the world's largest gem diamond ever recovered, the "Cullinan", at 3 106 carats rough.

It has also produced a further two of the world's largest diamonds, the Golden Jubilee at 755 carats rough and the Centenary at 599 carats rough, and many other famous gems including the Taylor-Burton (69 carats polished).

"The Cullinan mine has again given the world a spectacularly beautiful and important diamond," said Johan Dippenaar, Petra Diamond's chief executive officer.

"Initial indications are that it is of exceptional colour and clarity, which suggest extraordinary potential for its polished yield.

"We now eagerly await the findings of the expert analysis," he said.

- Sapa