What has been called Canada's finest diamond went to auction in Belgium yesterday. But cruelly for investors and aficionados of the jewellery world, the result of its sale in Antwerp remains a closely guarded secret.
The 78-carat, gem quality specimen, known as the Ekati Spirit, was uncovered at BHP Billiton's Ekati mine, near Yellowknife, northern Canada in October 2010.
The company described the 21 x 18 x 13mm diamond as "the most significant gem quality diamond to be discovered" at its Northwest Territories mine since operations began there in 1998.
"The diamond is potentially the most valuable stone in the mine's 13-year history," BHP Billiton said in a statement.
The company's biggest success at auction to date was a pear-shaped 10.22-carat gem which achieved $1.2m.
 The Ekati Spirit was discovered in October 2010 |
"It has absolutely stunning gem quality," BHP Billiton's Alexander Legaree told Postmedia News, adding that the Ekati Spirit was internally flawless and completely colourless, which is extremely rare for a diamond of its size.
Larger stones have been found at Ekati, including a 182-carat diamond unearthed during the mine's early years, but its grade was far below that of the rock for sale in Belgium.
The diamond was offered in rough cut form to a group of select buyers at yesterday's sale. Its current lack of refinement suggests that an investor could obtain much more value from the piece following the cutting process.
Diamonds from the Ekati mine are sold under the Aurias name.
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