Russian diamond producer Alrosa showcased the largest diamond ever cut in the country’s history – a 100-carat vivid yellow gem named “New Sun” – on April 4.

The rare stone, estimated to be over one billion years old, was recovered from the Ebelyakh alluvial deposit in the frozen wastes of the Sakha Republic in Yakutia in Russia’s Far East.

Originally weighing more than 200 carats, the diamond underwent an intricate cutting process that took a team of 15 of the nation’s top gem cutters more than two years to complete. Alrosa described the effort as a significant milestone in the development of the “Russian Cut,” a gem-cutting technique internationally recognised for its precision and craftsmanship.

"Alrosa has cut the largest diamond in the history of Russia. The weight of this unique diamond of the rare fantasy colour Vivid Yellow exceeds 100 carats,” the company said in a statement, adding that the gem was named New Sun to reflect the remarkable origin of the massive golden-honey coloured rough diamond.

The group said the work was carried out by a highly experienced team with over 30 years of expertise: “A team of 15 of the country's top specialists, each with more than 30 years of experience, worked on creating New Sun. The process of crafting this masterpiece took over two years.”

Alrosa, one of the world’s leading diamond producers, underlined the symbolic value of the diamond’s creation: “The creation of this diamond marks a new stage in the development of the Russian school of gemstone cutting, known as Russian Cut, which is recognised as a global benchmark. New Sun is one of the most significant events in the gemstone industry in recent years, highlighting Russia’s prominent status in the global diamond and jewellery sector.”