THE PEACE DIAMOND
THE PEACE DIAMOND, A COLOSSAL 709-CARAT ROUGH DIAMOND, WAS UNEARTHED BY A TEAM OF FIVE ARTISANAL DIGGERS NEAR KORYARDU, SIERRA LEONE, ON MARCH 13, 2017.
Measuring approximately 2.5 inches wide and 1 inch deep, it ranks as the world’s 14th largest diamond. Pastor Emanuel Momoh, the team’s manager and financial supporter, is the legal owner and a prominent figure in the village. Despite tempting offers to smuggle the diamond, he insisted on selling it through official government channels to ensure equitable distribution of the financial benefits to his village, district, and the people of Sierra Leone.
THE SIERRA LEONE PEACE DIAMOND WAS SOLD ON DECEMBER 4, 2017 TO THE HOUSE OF GRAFF FOR $6,536,360.
“The sale of the Sierra Leone Peace Diamond represents a new future for the people of Sierra Leone. We anticipate a virtuous cycle of development as taxes from the sale provide tangible benefit to the artisanal sector. This will encourage more diggers to sell their diamonds through legitimate channels increasing tax revenue and vital infrastructure development. I congratulate Laurence Graff for buying this special diamond and encourage the Graff team to promote the idea of the Peace Diamond as a diamond that makes the world a better place.” – Martin Rapaport
