Russian mining giant Alrosa recently revealed the “New Sun,” a radiant, 100-plus-carat, fancy vivid yellow diamond that now ranks as the largest polished colored diamond ever produced in Russia.
With its rich honey-golden hue and flawless proportions, this gem is the end product of a journey that began in August 2020, deep within the permafrost of Yakutia, at the Ebelyakh placer deposit on the Anabar River. The remote area is 3,800 km (about 2,400 miles) northeast of Moscow, near the Arctic Ocean.
There, Alrosa unearthed a 236-carat rough diamond, the largest natural colored diamond ever discovered in Russia. With dimensions slightly larger than a golf ball (47mm x 24mm x 22mm), the rough stone exhibited an extraordinary "fancy intense yellow-brown" color — just a grade below the rarest "fancy vivid" classification.
The rough was fittingly named “Dawn” for its golden glow and the promise of something extraordinary. Rather than auctioning it off as rough, Alrosa opted to handle the transformation in-house — entrusting the gem to its elite team of 15 master cutters.
Over the course of two painstaking years, the team at Alrosa’s Cutting Complex meticulously planned and executed the diamond’s transformation. Using 3D modeling, spectral analysis, and virtual simulations, they evaluated all possible shapes to determine the best design to maximize both carat weight and color brilliance. Every facet was placed with precision to achieve what Alrosa calls “the perfect balance between light, color and the play of shades.”
The result is the New Sun, a dazzling, 100-plus-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond that showcases the full potential of Russian gem-cutting expertise. Its sunny hue, echoing the brilliance of its rough predecessor, lives up to its name as a new bright star in Alrosa's galaxy.
The New Sun also represents a milestone in the evolution of the “Russian Cut” — a style and standard of cutting known worldwide for its precision and brilliance.
While Alrosa has not yet disclosed when or how the New Sun will be sold, its importance transcends the commercial. This diamond tells a story of how ancient Arctic geology and human artistry intersected to create a modern masterpiece.
Credits: Images courtesy of Alrosa.