The 71.26 Canadian Carat
Mention Canada and you’d be forgiven for first thinking feather-filled jackets, maple syrup and all things Mounty. Think again, Canada is a highly responsible producer of natural diamonds.
In the last weeks, a 71.26 carat, near-perfect octahedral-shaped fancy yellow diamond has been unearthed in Canada by the Arctic Canadian Diamond Company.
The rarity of this stone is quite magnificent; whilst the octahedral shape is the regular shape of diamonds as they develop, most will not retain this form over time, owing to breakage and extreme pressure. This sensational rough diamond is the largest of its kind to be discovered in Canada and was found in the Ekati mine.
Yellow diamond stones form in the same way that other natural diamonds do, forming over millions of years below the earth’s surface in extremely high temperatures and under immense pressure. What makes canary diamonds naturally yellow is the presence of nitrogen. nitrogen is present within the stone’s compound element. The yellow colouring comes from nitrogen being present within the stone’s compound element at the time of stone formation. Yellow diamonds can range from very light to vivid shades, the latter is often referred to as canary yellow.
“This historic fancy vivid yellow gemstone continues to showcase Canada as a major player on the world stage for diamond mining," - Rory Moore, President and CEO of Arctic Canadian.
The Ekati mine, operated by the Arctic Canadian Diamond Company, is Canada’s first diamond mine and has supplied natural diamonds since 1998. Crucially, the mine is known for responsible and environmental practices, giving attention to wildlife and neighbouring communities as part of its set up.
“Canadian diamonds are some of the most sought-after globally because of responsible mining practices and environmental stewardship. This stone is a testament to Ekati’s ability to deliver value now and into the future.” - Rory Moore, President.
Whilst this stone is of notable size it’s not the largest yellow stone found to date. The Tiffany Yellow Diamond is one of the largest yellow diamonds ever discovered. Its carat weight was originally 287.42 carats in the rough when discovered in 1878 in the Kimberley mine in South Africa. It was later cut into a cushion shape of 128.54 carats with 82 facets, some 24 more than a traditional round brilliant, to maximise its brilliance.
Download our size guide to print.