A 41.28-carat ice-blue diamond has been discovered at South Africa’s famed Cullinan mine, Petra Diamonds Limited announced, with experts suggesting it could rank among the most significant blue diamonds ever recovered.
Described in a company release on January 13 as “a 41.82 carat Type IIb blue diamond of seemingly exceptional quality in terms of both its colour and clarity,” the gemstone is currently undergoing analysis. Blue diamonds are extremely rare, prized for their vivid hue, which is caused by boron impurities that absorb warmer tones.
The Cullinan mine, one of two South African mines operated by Petra Diamonds, is internationally renowned for producing the Cullinan Diamond—the largest gem-quality diamond ever discovered. That historic gem yielded nine stones that were eventually set into the British Crown Jewels, now displayed at the Tower of London.
Petra Diamonds reports that over the past five years, the mine has produced between 1.4 and 1.9 million carats annually. The Cullinan mine, discovered in 1902 and expected to remain operational until the 2040s, has a reputation for rare blue diamonds. Previous notable finds include the De Beers Cullinan Blue, sold for $57.5 million in 2022, and a 39-carat rough blue diamond recovered in 2021, which later fetched over $40 million. This latest discovery marks the first major blue diamond recovery at Cullinan since then.
