Vivid Blue Gem Is Largest Of Its Kind, Set To Break Record At Sale
Last year, De Beers and Diacore joined forces to purchase a rare 39-carat blue diamond found in South Africa for a whopping US$40.2 million, making it the most expensive rough diamond ever sold.
Now, a 15-carat piece cut from the giant gem is headed to auction at Sotheby’s, with the auction house expecting it to fetch a jaw-dropping US$48 million as the world’s largest vivid blue diamond to ever be sold.
“Nothing of remotely similar calibre has appeared at auction in recent years,” said Patti Wong, Chairman of Sotheby’s Asia.
The incredible stone could even break the record for the most expensive blue diamond ever sold at Sotheby’s if it exceeds the previous US$48.5 million record set by the ‘Blue Moon of Josephine’ in 2015, as per ARTnews.
Barrons noted this was only the sixth time such a high-grade blue diamond in access of 10 carats have been sold at auctions, with the gemstone receiving a rating of “internally flawless.”
“The degree of its color saturation is unheard of,” explained Quig Bruning, Head of Jewels at Sotheby’s Americas.
The diamond is currently on view at Sotheby’s New York, and will travel to London, Dubai, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Taipei before heading to Hong Kong for the sale.
