Diamond Digger Unearths $13,000 Gem

(IDEX Online) - A small-time Indian diamond digger recovered a 4.57-ct yellow gem with an estimated value of over $13,000.

Rana Pratap Singh had leased a small patch of land in the diamond-rich Panna area of the central Madhya Pradesh state.

It will be auctioned by the state diamond inspectorate on 24 February and he will receive the hammer price, minus an 11.5 per cent royalty.

Diamonds finds are not unusual in the region - said to be home to 1.2m carats - but stones of such a size and value are rare.

Last December farmer Mulayam Singh, also digging in Panna, found a 13.47-ct diamond valued at over $66,000 (pictured). He said he'd spend the proceeds on his children's education.