World's second largest emerald comes calling on Dubai

An Indian luxury jewellery company has brought the world's second largest emerald in terms of size and value to Dubai.

Diacolor opened its Dubai base by displaying the 6,100 carat gemstone, discovered at the Kagem mine in Zambia. Named Insofu - baby elephant in the local language - the emerald is considered valuable by industry experts because of its large size, clarity and colour.

The 'Insofu' emerald was revealed by Ahmed Sultan bin Sulayem, executive chairman of the Dubai Multicommodities Centre Authority (DMCC), who was the guest of honour at the opening of Diacolor' s Middle East hub in Dubai.

This is the first time the emerald, which Diacolor bought at an auction in Zambia, is being displayed in Dubai and the Middle East while it has been showcased in global capitals earlier.

"The sheer size makes it a rare stone and on top of that, it has beautiful quality," said Rishabh Tongya, managing director of Diacolor Fine Contemporary Jewels.

He is willing to loan the emerald to museums, particularly in the UAE, as he believes people should know about it.

Insofu was mined in 2010 at Kagem, the world's single largest producing emerald mine, which is owned 75 per cent by London-based Gemfields, in partnership with the Zambian government.

- business@khaleejtimes.com