Rio Tinto has announced that the 187.7 carat rough diamond, dubbed the Diavik Foxfire, will be auctioned at the end of May after final viewings in Antwerp. In a statement released today, the company said that this is one of the world’s largest gem quality rough diamonds and is expected to yield at least one very large polished diamond with its ultimate destiny likely to be in an exclusive heirloom piece of jewellery.

The rough diamond was discovered at the Diavik Diamond Mine in the remote Northwest Territories of Canada, 200km south of the Arctic Circle.

Following its unveiling at an exclusive viewing in Kensington Palace in London in December 2015, the diamond is being showcased at the International Diamond Week in Israel and will also be displayed in New York and Tel Aviv for invitation-only viewings with prospective bidders – collectors, large diamond specialists and luxury jewellers, before it returns to Belgium.

Rio Tinto Diamonds & Minerals chief executive Alan Davies said, “We are delighted to showcase this exceptional, two billion-year-old Canadian diamond. Its ancient beginnings, together with the epic engineering feats required to unearth a diamond in the challenging sub-arctic environment, make it a true miracle of nature.”

Adds Patrick Coppens, Rio Tinto Diamonds general manager of Sales, “The combination of the Diavik Foxfire’s size, fascinating provenance and ethical pedigree is an important moment in time for the diamond industry. We many never again see a diamond of that size and quality from a Canadian diamond mine.”

Pic caption: The Diavik Foxfire
Courtesy: Rio Tinto