From the mountains of Lesotho to Antwerp: the journey of an extraordinary 108-carat pink diamond.
When an extraordinary 108.39-carat pink diamond was recovered from the KAO mine in the mountains of Lesotho, its custodians knew that every following decision would define its legacy. For Antwerp-based family business Choron, that decision was clear: the stone would be transformed in Antwerp, the historic heart of the global diamond trade.
To unlock the full potential of the stone, Choron entrusted the cutting and polishing to Flanders Diamond Manufacturing, one of Belgium’s most respected polishing ateliers. The collaboration once again highlights the strength of Antwerp’s diamond ecosystem.
The 108-carat pink diamond was recovered from the KAO mine in Lesotho by Storm Mountain Diamonds, a joint venture between Namakwa Diamonds and the Government of Lesotho. KAO is one of the few mines globally known for producing high-value white and pink diamonds.
Pink diamonds are extremely rare, and given the stone’s rarity, Storm Mountain Diamonds partnered with Choron to oversee its cutting, polishing, and global marketing. The decision to work in Antwerp was deliberate, because of the required craftmanship.
The rough stone was entrusted to Flanders Diamond Manufacturing, long specialized in large, complex diamonds. They said that this was the largest pink they have ever worked on.
The cutting plan yielded three principal cushion-shaped diamonds of approximately 20, 8, and 6 carats, along with several smaller stones, which were all certified by the GIA and Sarine Technologies.
After certification in New York, the diamonds returned to Antwerp for their official unveiling.
Discover the full story here: https://www.businessinantwerp.eu/en/news/mountains-lesotho-antwerp-journey-extraordinary-108-carat-pink-diamond (Source)
