The Kat Florence Lumina, a flawless 181.61-carat Paraiba tourmaline, will be auctioned at Bonhams Hong Kong on 22nd May, following its final exhibition tour in Asia. Discovered in 2003 by gem hunter Don Kogen in Mozambique as an 830-carat crystal, the stone was reimagined by jewellery designer Kat Florence and her team into a vividly saturated, unheated masterpiece—the largest of its kind.
In 2009, the gem world took notice when the 191.87-carat Ethereal Carolina Divine Paraiba, valued between $25 million and $125 million, was crowned the largest Paraiba tourmaline ever recorded by Guinness World Records, setting a high bar for rarity and value.
Fast forward to 2025, and the original 830-carat crystal remained uncut until Kogen’s wife, celebrated jewellery designer Kat Florence, urged him to revisit the stone. The initial cut yielded a 315-carat gem, impressive in size but flawed by “windowing”—a common issue in large Paraibas that dulls their vibrancy. Determined to achieve perfection, Florence and her elite cutting team spent months reworking the stone. The result is The Kat Florence Lumina: a breathtaking 181.61-carat masterpiece, certified by Bellerophon, AGL, and Gübelin Gem Lab for its unparalleled clarity, color, and cut.
The Kat Florence Lumina is now completing its final exhibition tour, with stops in Taipei (11–13 April), Singapore (10–11 May), and Hong Kong (17–21 May), before the much-anticipated auction.