Russian diamond mining giant Alrosa has unearthed the largest gem-quality diamond ever discovered in the country. The rare amber-coloured crystal weighs an impressive 468.30 carats and measures 56 x 54 x 22 mm. It was recovered in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

“This year will undoubtedly mark a historic milestone for Russia’s diamond industry,” said Alrosa CEO Pavel Marynichev. “In early April, we unveiled the largest diamond ever cut in Russia — over 100 carats, which took more than two years to polish. And now, nature has gifted us this extraordinary discovery. It is the biggest gem-quality diamond ever mined in Russia.”

In tribute to the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the diamond has been named “80 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.”