Petra CEO Johan Dippenaar holding the exceptional 29.6-carat blue diamond recovered in January 2014

The Cullinan mine was acquired by Petra Diamonds in 2008. Other notable diamonds discovered in the mine is the 3,106 carats Culinan Diamond in 1905- described as the largest rough gem diamond ever recovered; and a 25.5 carat blue diamond in 2013 - sold for $16.9 million.The blue diamond was discovered by Petra Diamonds about 25 miles north east of Pretoria, South Africa in January. The color makes it one of the rarest and most coveted in the world. At the point of the discovery, Petra described the stone as “an outstanding vivid blue with extraordinary saturation, tone and clarity. It is one of the most exceptional stones recovered at Cullinan during Petra’s operation of the mine”. “This sale result affirms this stone as one of the most important blue diamonds ever recovered,” Petra CEO Johan Dippenaar noted. 

 

 

The 29.6-carat blue diamond.