Gemfields Recovers its Biggest Ever Emerald
August 28, 25
(IDEX Online) - 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.
Pic courtesy Gemfields.