The largest high-quality emerald ever found by Gemfields is an enormous 11,685-ct gem called “Imboo.” The stone was sourced in Kagem mine in Zambia and translates as “buffalo” (a very fitting word) in the local language.
Exactly one month ago, geologist Dharanidhar Seth and chiseler Justin Banda made a remarkable discovery in the Chama pit in Kagem. Following the long-established tradition, they decided to name it after some species of the Zambian animal world. Buffalo turned out to be the most suitable, judging by the gem’s size. Perhaps, you don’t know, but in African folklore, this animal symbolizes friendliness, resourcefulness, ambition, and perseverance. And what about your image of buffalo, do you agree with this character trait list?
As we’ve mentioned, Kagem’s tradition to name big stones after animals has appeared long ago. The 6,224-carat Insofu (“elephant“) was found in 2010, the 5,656-carat Inkalamu (“lioness“) in 2018, and the 7,524-carat Chipembele (“rhinoceros“) in 2021. Imboo is now at the top of the list. And it’s a rare case when a buffalo actually beats an elephant in size, even if it’s in a symbolic way.
Emerald “Chipembele” (Photo courtesy of Gemfields).
Imboo is currently the star of Gemfields’ premium-class emerald auction, which began on September 1 and will end in seven days.
According to the managing director of product and sales Adrian Bank, Imboo is a clear green gem of rare color intensity with barely perceptible golden hues. Its translucency and clarity mesmerize people even under the most powerful lighting.
It’s tempting to imagine how many sizable and exquisitely cut gems can come from this single emerald. It will likely produce enough to create not one, but several jewelry sets. And what about you, what would you have created with such a giant? Or perhaps, it would remain untouched, destined to be shown only at geology museums?
The person who’ll end up buying Imboo will also have access to Provenance Proof nanotagging technology. It guarantees that the gem could be tracked from the very mine where it was originally found. Even after cutting and polishing, the owner will be able to identify the stone thanks to this Gemfields’ technology.
Thus, Imboo can be called not only a geological miracle, but a cultural icon. It shows that the Kagem mine is far from being depleted and other cool discoveries may be just a hand’s reach away.
