The auction, which was conducted via an online platform customised for the Grizzly Mining auction, resulted in the successful sale of 105 lots from a total of 112 on offer.
The goods reportedly consisted of mid-to high-grade rough emeralds, with a total of 1.5 million carats sold.
Grizzly Mining’s chairman, Abdoulaye Ndiaye, said, “This has been another strong auction for Grizzly.
“Our medium- and high-grade stones remain in strong demand, and our ability to host regular auctions allows us to reliably meet the market’s appetite for premium coloured gemstones.”
International buyers could participate through a sealed-bid process, and Ndiaye added, “Hosting these auctions regularly ensures that we can continue to supply the growing market for outstanding coloured gemstones.”
The Pilala emerald was extracted from the Camara pit, one of Grizzly’s earliest mining licenses acquired in 1997. The pit reportedly continues to yield high-quality stones.
The winning bidder was KBK Gemstones, an Indian company based in Jaipur. KBK has been a client of Grizzly Mining for more than 20 years and consistently attends its auctions in Zambia and Dubai.
According to Guinness World Records, the largest gem-quality emerald ever discovered is the 7,525-carat (1.5 Kg) crystal named ‘Chipembele'.
It was discovered in July 2021 at the Kagem Emerald mine in Zambia. Chipembele means ‘rhino’ in the Bemba dialect.
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