Editor’s Note
Angola has unearthed the “Lulo Rose,” a remarkable 170-carat pink diamond that is the largest found in the country in three centuries. This historic gem surpasses the famed Daria-i-Noor in size, marking a significant moment for the nation’s mining heritage.
Angola is celebrating its new pink diamond, the “Lulo Rose.” The 170-carat stone, named after the mine where it was found, weighs 34 grams and is the largest discovery of its kind in the country in the last 300 years. This surpasses the previous record held by the 185-carat Daria-i-Noor, which is now part of the Iranian crown jewels.
The “Lulo Rose” is a Type IIa diamond, meaning it has almost no impurities.
The stone is the fifth-largest diamond recovered from the Lulo mine, which is operated by the Australian company Lucapa Diamond in partnership with the Angolan government. The “Lulo Rose” was discovered in this prolific Angolan mine.
The diamond is scheduled to be sold this year through an international tender conducted by Angola’s state diamond trading company, Sodiam. Its value is considered incalculable. Similar diamonds have been sold for tens of millions of dollars in the past. Notably, the diamond nicknamed the “Pink Star” was purchased at a Hong Kong auction in 2017 for $71.2 million.
The largest known pink diamond is the Daria-i-Noor, discovered in India. Experts believe it was cut from an even larger stone. The record for the largest rough diamond ever found is held by the Cullinan, which weighed 3,107 carats (just over half a kilogram). Discovered in South Africa in 1905, it was cut into 105 different stones, the largest of which is part of the British Crown Jewels.
