World’s Largest Emerald Up For Auction

In the world of oversized gemstones, one often hears about the three or even five-carat diamonds set in celebrity engagement rings. Occasionally, there is even the ten or twenty carat ring worn on a starlet’s hand. Then there are the world-famous large diamonds and gemstones with weights that soar upwards in the two- and even three-hundred carat range.

But now, there is a new stone vying for the title of world’s largest gemstone. And this one is too big to be worn on any finger.

Gems Canada, a high-end gem trader in Calgary, Canada, has just announced that they will be auctioning off an emerald that weighs a staggering 57,500 carats. That’s right—fifty-seven thousand, five hundred carats. That translates to over 25 pounds!

The monstrous stone was first mined in Brazil, where it was given the title of Teodora—or Gift of God in Portuguese. Its exact line of ownership is not known, but the current owner, Regan Reaney of Gems Canada, has conducted extensive testing to prove that it is in fact a real emerald, and that it is one solid stone. While this jumbo emerald is over 30 centimeters long and 15 centimeters wide, it is only the fifth largest emerald ever mined; it is, however, the largest to ever be cut into facets and kept as one gemstone rather than being split into smaller stones.

As Reaney explained to the press, gemstones of this size are usually cut into smaller gemstones to circumvent internal flaws. But since this stone is a rare opaque emerald, the decision was made to cut it as one solid, magnificent gem. “I’m still amazed every time I look at it,” Reaney told the National Post.

The stone will be sold in a public auction on January 28, at Western Star Auctions in Kelowna. Reaney has told the press that he has already received notices of interest from gem collectors and jewelers in Houston and the Middle East. The bidding will start at $1million, but the final price is expected to be far higher.

Although this emerald is far too big for any kind of jewelry, imagine the conversation piece it could make as a paperweight!