Coloured gemstone specialist Gemfields recently introduced the largest emerald ever unearthed from its Kagem mine in Zambia. The rare gemstone, weighing 7,525 carats, will be offered at the company’s upcoming emerald auction.

Named Chipembele, which means “rhino” in the local indigenous dialect of Bemba, the emerald belongs to an exclusive group of named uncut emeralds, revered for their extraordinary beauty and size. 

“The recovery of such a large high-quality emerald is extremely rare and was made possible by the skilled Kagem mining team, who practise gentle extraction techniques when mining in areas where emerald mineralisation is present,” noted Gemfields.

The stone’s rich, golden-green hue and “gemmy” nature is expected to attract buyers at the next Gemfields emerald auction, with viewing scheduled for November. Chipembele, alongside other premium emeralds at the auction, will receive Gübelin Gem Lab’s “provenance proof” service to ensure its origin. 

Discovered on July 13, 2021, Chipembele is the largest of three significant finds so far produced by Kagem. The other two – Insofu (meaning elephant) weighing 6,225 carats and Inkalamu (meaning lion), 5,655 – were also named to pay homage to the wildlife of Africa.