The rights to the world’s most expensive rough diamond, the 813-carat diamond dubbed “The Constellation”, has been purchased by Swiss jeweler De Grisogono. The company announced the purchase at the launch of the 28th Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris earlier this month.
The massive rock, which measures over six centimeters wide, was unearthed by Lucara Diamond Corporation at its Karowe mine in Botswana in November 2015. It was purchased for $63 million earlier this year by Dubai-based Nemesis International, , following a competitive bidding process.
According to a press release by the Swiss jeweler, “The Constellation” boasts the color, clarity and carat weighting of an “internationally and historically significant stone”. It is expected that the cutting process, due to be completed by the middle of 2017, may unveil one of the world’s largest certified flawless diamond.
Founder and Executive Board member of De Grisogono, Fawaz Gruosi, said: “To be able to bring my creative skills to the cutting and setting process of such a stone is both an honor and a privilege and I cannot wait to realize my vision for it”.
Speaking about what the purchase means for the business, John Leitao, CEO of De Grisogono, noted: “We firmly believe that, despite a challenging market environment, people will continue to cherish and value those objects which are truly unique and special, such as this extraordinary piece of history”.
The Constellation is the second major acquisition De Grisogono makes this year, after the purchase in May of a 404-carat rough diamond – also from Nemesis International. The stone was recovered by Lucapa at its Lulo mine in Lesotho.
