Chipembele is a remarkable 7,525-carat (1.505 kg) natural emerald discovered at the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia on July 13, 2021. Guinness World Records verified the stone on April 22, 2022 under the title “Largest uncut emerald.” Its exceptional size, vivid green appearance and distinctive crystal form quickly made it one of the most famous rough emeralds in modern gemstone history.
There is now an important update, however. In August 2025, Gemfields announced Imboo, an even larger 11,685-carat emerald recovered from Kagem. So, is Chipembele still the world's largest emerald? The answer depends on what exactly is being compared. Chipembele received the Guinness World Records title in 2022, while Imboo is physically heavier and has been described by Gemfields as the largest exceptional gemstone discovered at Kagem.
Quick Answer
Chipembele weighs 7,525 carats (1.505 kg) and was verified by Guinness World Records in April 2022 as the largest uncut emerald. In 2025, Kagem produced the heavier 11,685-carat Imboo emerald. Chipembele therefore remains important for its Guinness-certified record history, while Imboo represents a newer and substantially larger Kagem emerald discovery.
Chipembele Emerald at a Glance
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Is Chipembele Still the World's Largest Uncut Emerald?
This question now requires some context. Guinness World Records verified Chipembele as the largest uncut emerald on April 22, 2022. At 7,525 carats, the single emerald crystal was already extraordinary in both scale and appearance.
In August 2025, however, Gemfields introduced another exceptional emerald from the Kagem mine called Imboo. Weighing 11,685 carats, Imboo is 4,160 carats heavier than Chipembele and was described by Gemfields as the largest exceptional gemstone discovered at Kagem.
This means readers should distinguish between a Guinness-verified record and a newer, heavier discovery. Chipembele is historically significant for receiving the Guinness title in 2022, whereas Imboo is the larger of the two stones by weight.
Guinness also notes that records can change and that updates are not always immediately published online. For that reason, it is more accurate to describe Chipembele by its verified 2022 Guinness achievement rather than simply claiming that it is unquestionably the largest emerald ever found.
What Is the Chipembele Emerald?
Chipembele is a giant rough emerald crystal from Zambia. Emerald is the green variety of the mineral beryl and is one of the world's best-known colored gemstones. Its characteristic green color is associated primarily with trace elements such as chromium and vanadium.
Emerald is also traditionally recognized as the May birthstone, making the gemstone especially meaningful for May birthdays as well as anniversary, engagement and fine jewelry.
What makes Chipembele unusual is not merely its weight. Large emerald crystals can contain substantial fractures, inclusions or areas unsuitable for cutting. Chipembele attracted attention because Gemfields described it as having an appealing vivid green appearance, glassy surfaces and unusually impressive characteristics for a crystal of such enormous size.
Where and When Was Chipembele Found?
Chipembele was discovered on July 13, 2021 at the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia's Copperbelt Province. Geologist Manas Banerjee, Richard Kapeta and their team were credited with the discovery.
Kagem is one of the world's most important sources of emerald. The mine is operated by Gemfields, which owns 75% of Kagem, while Zambia's Industrial Development Corporation holds the remaining 25%.
The mine has produced several unusually large named emeralds, including Insofu, Inkalamu, Chipembele and, most recently, Imboo.
Why Is It Called Chipembele?
The name Chipembele means “rhino” in Bemba, a language spoken in Zambia. The name was inspired in part by the crystal's distinctive shape, including a projection that was compared with a rhinoceros horn.
Naming exceptional emeralds is not an everyday practice. Gemfields has traditionally reserved names for particularly rare and notable discoveries. Other giant Kagem emeralds have also received wildlife-inspired names, including Insofu, meaning “elephant,” Inkalamu, meaning “lion,” and Imboo, meaning “buffalo.”
How Big Is the Chipembele Emerald?
Chipembele weighs 7,525 carats, equivalent to approximately 1,505 grams or 1.505 kilograms. For a single natural emerald crystal, that is an extraordinary mass.
Carat is the standard unit used to express gemstone weight. One carat equals 0.2 grams, which means thousands of carats quickly translate into kilograms when dealing with exceptional rough crystals such as Chipembele.
The stone's size alone is impressive, but its combination of scale, green color and crystal character is what helped it attract international attention.
What Does Chipembele Look Like?
Gemfields described Chipembele as displaying a vivid green appearance with large, distinct hexagonal crystal structures and glassy surfaces. When illuminated, areas of the crystal allow its internal characteristics and green color to become more visible.
Emerald belongs to the hexagonal crystal system, so a large rough emerald can look very different from the polished emerald-cut stones most people recognize in jewelry. Rough crystals may retain natural faces, irregular surfaces, inclusions and surrounding mineral material formed during their geological development.
How Did the Chipembele Emerald Form?
Large natural emeralds require an unusual combination of geological conditions. In Zambia's Kafubu emerald region, emerald formation is closely associated with the interaction of different rock types and mineral-rich geological fluids.
According to research from the Gemological Institute of America, emerald mineralization in the Kagem area is associated with reaction zones where beryllium-rich pegmatitic material interacts with chromium- and vanadium-bearing host rocks. Under suitable geological conditions, these components contribute to the formation of emerald crystals.
This unusual geological combination helps explain why emerald is far less common than ordinary beryl and why areas such as Zambia's Kafubu region are so important to the global emerald industry.
Where Are Emeralds Found Around the World?
Emerald deposits occur in several parts of the world. Colombia, Zambia and Brazil are among the best-known commercial sources, while emeralds are also found in countries including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Pakistan, Russia and Zimbabwe.
Emeralds from different deposits can vary in color, trace-element chemistry, inclusions and geological characteristics. Gemological laboratories may examine microscopic features, spectroscopy and trace-element chemistry when evaluating the geographic origin of an emerald.
Zambian Emeralds
Zambia has become particularly important in the modern emerald trade. Research by GIA has shown that Zambian emeralds can possess quality comparable with material from other famous sources, although their chemistry and geological formation can differ from Colombian emeralds.
Zambian emeralds are often associated with chromium, vanadium and relatively higher iron content. Their appearance can range from richly saturated green to green with subtle bluish or golden characteristics depending on the individual crystal.
Who Owns the Chipembele Emerald?
Chipembele was offered through Gemfields' high-quality emerald auction in November 2021 and was acquired by Eshed–Gemstar, an Israel-based gemstone company.
Eshed–Gemstar later pursued the Guinness World Records recognition. The record was verified on April 22, 2022, and the achievement was celebrated with Gemfields at the GemGenève jewelry and gemstone show in May 2022.
The story is also notable from a provenance perspective. Gemfields stated that the buyer could use traceability technology designed to help identify future cut and polished gems as originating from the exceptional Chipembele crystal.
Imboo vs Chipembele vs Insofu vs Inkalamu
The Kagem mine has produced several enormous emeralds. Comparing them shows just how exceptional Chipembele was when it was discovered—and why Imboo's arrival in 2025 was such a significant development.
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These weights refer to exceptional rough emerald crystals recovered from Kagem. A higher carat weight does not automatically mean a rough emerald will yield more fine-quality polished gems because clarity, fractures, inclusions, crystal structure, color distribution and cutting decisions all influence the final result.
What About the Bahia Emerald?
The Bahia Emerald is frequently mentioned in discussions about the world's largest emeralds, but it should not be compared with Chipembele using weight alone.
Unlike Chipembele, which is recognized as a single rough emerald crystal for its Guinness record, the object known as the Bahia Emerald is an enormous emerald-bearing mineral specimen containing multiple emerald crystals within a rock matrix.
This difference is crucial. Headlines about the Bahia Emerald may cite the weight of the entire emerald-bearing mass, but that is not equivalent to weighing one individual emerald crystal. Consequently, statements claiming that one is simply “larger” than the other can be misleading unless the measurement category is clearly explained.
Simple distinction: Chipembele is famous as a single giant rough emerald crystal with a Guinness-verified record, while the Bahia Emerald is a massive rock specimen containing multiple emerald crystals. Their headline weights describe different types of objects.
Why Are Giant Emeralds So Rare?
Emerald crystals need specific geological ingredients and conditions to form. Producing a crystal that is not only large but also displays attractive color and useful transparency is even more unusual.
Several factors can make giant emerald crystals exceptional:
- Rare geological conditions: The elements needed to form emerald must come together under suitable temperature, pressure and chemical conditions.
- Crystal size: Growing into a very large crystal without the formation being interrupted is uncommon.
- Color: A giant crystal with attractive green saturation is more noteworthy than size alone.
- Transparency and inclusions: Emeralds commonly contain inclusions and fractures, so relatively attractive crystal areas within very large rough material can be particularly valuable.
- Preservation: The crystal must survive geological processes and mining without being extensively broken.
Does a 7,525-Carat Rough Emerald Become One Giant Cut Emerald?
Not necessarily. A rough gemstone's carat weight is very different from the final weight of polished stones produced from it.
Before cutting, experts must study the rough material to understand its crystal structure, color distribution, fractures, inclusions and transparent areas. A cutter may decide that dividing a large rough crystal into several smaller stones produces better-quality finished gems than attempting to preserve maximum size.
Cutting also removes material. Therefore, a 7,525-carat rough emerald should never be interpreted as a future 7,525-carat polished emerald.
If you are interested in how emerald quality affects jewelry value, read our guide to the factors affecting the price of emerald jewelry.
Are Inclusions Normal in Emeralds?
Yes. Natural emeralds commonly contain internal features such as fissures, mineral crystals and fluid inclusions. These features are part of how emeralds form in nature, although their amount, position and visibility can influence appearance, durability and value.
The presence of inclusions does not automatically mean an emerald is poor quality or fake. Instead, each stone should be evaluated based on its overall combination of color, clarity, cut, carat weight and treatment.
Because surface-reaching fissures are common in emeralds, clarity enhancement is also widely associated with the gemstone trade. If you want to understand this topic before buying emerald jewelry, see our detailed guide to emerald oil treatment.
Why Does Chipembele Matter to the Gemstone World?
Chipembele is more than a very large green crystal. Its story brings together geology, mining, gemstone identification, provenance and record keeping.
Its importance can be understood in several ways:
- It demonstrated the ability of Zambia's Kagem deposit to produce exceptionally large emerald crystals.
- Its 7,525-carat weight earned international recognition through Guinness World Records in 2022.
- Its discovery followed earlier Kagem giants Insofu and Inkalamu.
- Its story helped draw public attention to the geological conditions responsible for Zambian emerald formation.
- The later discovery of Imboo demonstrates that even extraordinary gemstone records and “largest ever” claims need to be revisited as new material is recovered.
For gemstone enthusiasts, this evolving history is part of what makes natural emeralds fascinating: even after centuries of mining, the earth can still reveal crystals that change our understanding of what is possible.
How to Choose an Emerald Ring Inspired by This Famous Gemstone
Most jewelry buyers will never encounter a crystal remotely close to Chipembele's size, but the qualities that make famous emeralds fascinating can still help you appreciate emerald jewelry.
When choosing an emerald ring, consider:
- Color: Look for a green that appears attractive, lively and well distributed to your eye.
- Clarity: Natural inclusions are common, but consider how strongly they affect the stone's beauty and durability.
- Cut: A thoughtful cut can enhance color while helping protect vulnerable areas of the gemstone.
- Carat weight: Compare size together with color, clarity and overall appearance rather than judging an emerald by weight alone.
- Treatment disclosure: Understand whether the emerald has received clarity enhancement and what documentation accompanies the jewelry.
- Setting: For frequently worn rings, secure prongs, halos, bezels and other protective designs can help reduce exposure to accidental impact.
For more practical buying advice, read our beginner's guide to emerald rings or explore our natural emerald engagement rings.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Chipembele
What is the Chipembele emerald?
Chipembele is a 7,525-carat natural emerald crystal discovered at the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia in July 2021. Guinness World Records verified it in April 2022 under the title “Largest uncut emerald.” The name Chipembele means “rhino” in Bemba.
How many carats is Chipembele?
Chipembele weighs 7,525 carats, equivalent to approximately 1,505 grams or 1.505 kilograms.
Where was Chipembele found?
Chipembele was discovered at the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia's Copperbelt Province. Kagem has produced several famous large emeralds, including Insofu, Inkalamu and Imboo.
When was Chipembele discovered?
Chipembele was discovered on July 13, 2021 by geologist Manas Banerjee, Richard Kapeta and their team at Kagem.
Why is it called Chipembele?
Chipembele means “rhino” in the Bemba language. The wildlife-inspired name also reflects the naming tradition used for several exceptional emeralds discovered at Kagem.
Who owns the Chipembele emerald?
Eshed–Gemstar acquired Chipembele through Gemfields' high-quality emerald auction in November 2021 and was identified as its owner when the Guinness World Records achievement was announced in 2022.
Is Chipembele the largest emerald in the world?
Chipembele was verified by Guinness World Records in April 2022 under the title “Largest uncut emerald.” However, Gemfields announced the heavier 11,685-carat Imboo emerald in August 2025. It is therefore important to distinguish Chipembele's Guinness-certified record history from newer discoveries that are larger by weight.
Is Imboo bigger than Chipembele?
Yes. Imboo weighs 11,685 carats, while Chipembele weighs 7,525 carats. Imboo is therefore 4,160 carats heavier. Gemfields describes Imboo as the largest exceptional gemstone discovered at the Kagem mine.
Is the Bahia Emerald bigger than Chipembele?
The two are not directly comparable by headline weight. Chipembele is a single rough emerald crystal associated with a Guinness record. The Bahia Emerald is a much larger rock specimen containing multiple emerald crystals embedded in matrix. Comparing their total weights as though both were individual emerald crystals can therefore be misleading.
What was the largest Kagem emerald before Chipembele?
Before Chipembele, Kagem had produced other famous giant emeralds including Insofu at 6,225 carats and Inkalamu at 5,655 carats. Chipembele surpassed both when it was discovered in 2021. Imboo later surpassed Chipembele in weight in 2025.
Why is Zambia famous for emeralds?
Zambia is one of the world's important commercial sources of emerald. The Kafubu region has geological conditions in which beryllium-bearing material interacts with chromium- and vanadium-bearing rocks, helping emerald crystals to form. The Kagem mine in this region has produced several internationally famous exceptional emeralds.
Final Thoughts
Chipembele remains one of the most extraordinary emerald discoveries of modern times. At 7,525 carats, its size, crystal form and green appearance earned worldwide attention and a Guinness World Records title verified in 2022.
Its story has also evolved. The discovery of the 11,685-carat Imboo emerald in 2025 reminds us why gemstone records need precise definitions and current information. Chipembele's Guinness achievement, Imboo's greater weight and the very different structure of specimens such as the Bahia Emerald can all be true at the same time when each is described accurately.
For jewelry lovers, these giant rough emeralds offer a rare look at emerald before it becomes the polished green gemstone seen in fine jewelry. If you would like to learn more about choosing an emerald for yourself, explore our guide to emerald jewelry pricing or browse our emerald rings.
Sources and Further Reading
Key factual details in this article were checked against primary gemstone-industry and gemological sources. External reference links below open in a new tab.
- Guinness World Records — World's Largest Uncut Emerald
- Gemfields — Chipembele Breaks Guinness World Records Title
- Gemfields — Chipembele, the Rhino Emerald
- Gemfields — Imboo, the 11,685-Carat Buffalo Emerald
- GIA — A Visit to the Kagem Open-Pit Emerald Mine in Zambia
- GIA — Geographic Origin Determination of Emerald