PARIS — The largest known black diamond in the world was unveiled Thursday in Paris ahead of an auction of the extremely rare stone in eastern France.
The diamond weighs 489.07 carats and is estimated to be worth $1.6 million to $1.9 million.
Salit, who is based in Paris’ elegant Place Vendome, said it has been 30 years since a precious stone of more than 100 carats was sold on the open market.
The black diamond will be auctioned June 28 in the town of Dole near France’s border with Switzerland.
Hewn recently from a rough diamond weighing over 1,000 carats, the black stone is set in palladium, a rare silvery-white metal. It is cut in the shape of an emerald.
The diamond’s past remains a mystery, and its owner has requested anonymity.
Uncut black diamond stones were extracted in just two places in the world — Brazil and central Africa. But the mines are now exhausted, and stones found on the market come from stocks built up over 50 years of mining.
The diamond will remain in Paris during the auction. Bidders in Dole will be presented with a description and images of the stone.
