A massive 11,685-carat emerald weighing 2.3 kilogrammes has been unearthed at Zambia’s Kagem mine, believed to be the world’s largest emerald-producing site.
The gemstone, named Imboo (buffalo), was discovered on 3 August 2025 in the Chama pit by geologist Dharanidhar Seth and veteran chiseller Justin Banda. It surpasses previous record finds at the mine, including the 7,525-carat Chipembele (rhino) in 2021, the 6,225-carat Insofu (elephant) in 2010, and the 5,655-carat Inkalamu (lion) in 2018.
Gemfields, which operates Kagem, said Imboo represents the largest single gemstone discovery of exceptional quality at the mine to date. The emerald will headline the company’s high-quality auction in Bangkok, Thailand, running from 25 August to 11 September 2025, with all proceeds to be repatriated to Zambia.