Alrosa Unearths Russia's Biggest Ever Diamond, at 486cts
May 13, 25
(IDEX Online) - Alrosa has recovered the biggest gem-quality diamond in Russia's history - an amber-colored stone weighing 468.30 carats.
It breaks a record held since 2013 by a diamond weighing 401 carats.
In 2023 the state-controlled miner announced it had found a 390.7-carat diamond in the Yakutia region, in Russia's Far East.
The new find, measuring 56mm x54mm x22mm and also from Yakutia, has been named "80 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War", marking the former Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
"The year 2025 will definitely take a special place in the history of the Russian diamond industry," said Alrosa's CEO Pavel Marinychev in a statement.
"To date, this is the largest gem-quality diamond mined in Russia. It is symbolic that it was found in the year of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory.
"Therefore, we decided to name it in honor of such a significant event for our entire country."
Last month Alrosa said it had completed the two-year process of cutting a 236-carat fancy vivid yellow rough - Russia's biggest ever colored diamond - into a polished gem named New Sun. It did not disclose the size, cut or clarity.
Alrosa reported a 42 per cent slump in its Q1 revenue for 2025, as G7 sanctions continue to bite and global demand for natural diamonds remains weak.
Pic courtesy Alrosa of the 80 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War diamond.