Russian miner Alrosa will sell an exceptional 242.31-carat diamond – one of the largest gem-quality stones ever mined by the group since 2000 – at an auction in Dubai. 

The sale, named Jubilee Auction #100 in celebration of Alrosa’s 100th international auction of large diamonds, will take place on March 22, 2021. The lots may be viewed at Alrosa’s sales office in Dubai from March 14 to 21.

Evgeny Agureev, Alrosa’s head of Sales, said, “Rough diamonds, which potentially allow for cutting a diamond larger than 100 carats, are extremely rare in nature. Even less often that such gems are traded. According to law, all rough diamonds larger than 50 carats mined in Russia should undergo a state examination for redemption to the state fund. Even when it is possible to put them on sale in the market, we prefer to cut and polish the diamond in-house.”

Also on offer are two diamonds of 190.74 carats and 136.21 carats respectively, alongside other notable diamonds weighing over 10.8 carats.

Alrosa sells special-sized (over 10.8 carats) rough diamonds exclusively at auctions. The first auction of such kind was held by the United Selling Organization of ALROSA in Moscow in 2003.