Named Lulo Rose, the large 170-carat pink gemstone was found at the Lulo diamond mine, according to owners Lucapa Company – an alluvial mine, meaning it was found in a river bed. “Only one in 10,000 diamonds are pink. So you’re definitely looking at a very rare item when you find a very large pink diamond,” Lucapa CEO Stephen Wetherall told The Associated Press. It is likely to fetch a high price when it heads to the auction room, but Mr Wetherall suggested its color could fetch it an even higher premium. “We’re looking for the kimberlite pipes that brought these diamonds to the surface,” Mr Wetherall said. “When you find these big, high-value diamonds … it certainly adds to the excitement from our perspective in hunting down the primary source.” The mine employs around 400 staff and has already discovered the two largest diamonds ever found in Angola, which include a 404 carat clear diamond. Lulo’s latest find is the fifth largest diamond – pink or otherwise – found at the site and will be sold by Angola’s state-owned diamond marketing company Sodiam. The country itself is in the top 10 diamond producers in the world. Angola’s Minister of Minerals, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, said: “This record and spectacular pink diamond recovered from Lulo continues to highlight Angola as a major player on the global diamond mining stage and shows the potential and the rewards for commitment and investment in our growing diamond mining industry.” While the 170-carat pink diamond is impressive, many clear diamonds often tip the scales at well over 1,000.
