A massive diamond with a possible price tag of more than £36m has been discovered at a mine in South Africa.
The 29.6 carat blue diamond, described as being “exceptional”, was dug up at the Cullinan mine near Pretoria – owned by Petra Diamonds.
Chief executive Johan Dippenaar said: “The stones in the last year or so are selling well above $2m (£1.2m) per carat. That’s not my quote, that’s updates in the market.”
However, analyst Cailey Barker at brokers Numis said it could expect to fetch less – between $15m (£9m) and $20m (£12m) – at auction.
The mine, owned by the firm since 2008, was also where the Cullinan Diamond was found in 1905 – described as the largest ɾօυɢҺ gem diamond ever recovered and weighing 3,106 carats.
Other notable diamonds found in the mine include a 25.5 carat Cullinan blue diamond, found in 2013 and sold for $16.9m (£10m), and a diamond found in 2008, known as the Star of Josephine, which was sold for $9.49m (£5.7m).
Diamonds unearthed by Petra, which also operates mines in Botswana and Tanzania, have previously been displayed at Buckingham Palace.
The 1905 Cullinan Diamond was cut into two stones – the First Star of Africa and the Second Star of Africa – and form part of Britain’s crown jewels held in the Tower of London.
