World's biggest emerald is for sale

KELOWNA, British Columbia, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- A watermelon-sized emerald -- the largest in the world -- will go to the highest bidder this month, auctioneers in Canada say.

The 11.5-kilogram (25.35-pound) oval gemstone named "Teodora" or "God's Gift," figures out to 57,000 carats and was appraised Monday at $1.15 million, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. It goes up for sale Jan. 28.

"It's a very beautiful deep green. To me it's just a thing of beauty," Mike Odenbach, owner of Western Star Auctions in Kelowna, British Columbia, said. "It's spectacular. It's just nothing short of spectacular."

Odenbach said he believes the emerald -- which was mined in Brazil, cut in India and is owned by a gem dealer in Calgary, Alberta -- could sell for much more than its appraised value.

"It's not unusual for gemstones to sell a lot higher than their appraised value, just depending on who wants to possess the largest emerald in the world. Really the sky's the limit," he said.