Topline
The most important white diamond to ever be offered publicly might fetch as a lot as $30 million when it goes to public sale in Switzerland in Might, as costs and demand for diamonds proceed to rebound after an preliminary pandemic stoop.
Christie’s worldwide head of knickknack Rahul Kadakia holding the 228.31-carat pear-shaped … [+]
Courtesy Christie’s
Key Info
Dubbed “The Rock,” the jewel is a 228.31-carat pear-shaped diamond that was mined and polished in South Africa 20 years in the past, in response to Christie’s, which stated it was among the many best gem stones to go by the public sale home since its founding in 1766.
The gem will break the file for the biggest auctioned diamond set in 2017, when a 163.41-carat white diamond offered for $33.7 million, additionally by Christie’s Geneva.
The Gemmological Institute of America graded the gem as a G colour, VS1 readability diamond, and the sale will embody a letter from the laboratory stating “The Rock” is the biggest pear-shaped diamond to be graded by the institute, in response to Christie’s.
The stone will go on a worldwide tour earlier than the Might public sale, stopping first at Christie’s showrooms in Dubai, Taipei and New York, after which despatched to Geneva, the place will probably be one of many jewels of Christie’s Luxury Week auctions.
Christie’s first brokered the personal sale of the gem to a collector practically twenty years in the past, and the vendor just lately approached the public sale home to promote again “The Rock” on the general public market after the demand for diamonds elevated final yr, Christie’s worldwide head of knickknack Rahul Kadakia instructed Bloomberg.
At 228.31 carats, “The Rock” is the biggest white diamond to ever hit an public sale block and has been … [+]
Courtesy Christie’s
Key Background
The diamond business has managed to make a serious comeback after being battered by the pandemic. De Beers and Alrosa—two of the world’s main diamond corporations—completed final yr with higher sale numbers than even the prepandemic 2019 figures. Prospects spending extra time at dwelling have continued to spend money on diamonds over different luxuries made harder by the pandemic, like journey, in response to Bloomberg. Each De Beers and Alrosa raised prices for his or her diamonds all through 2021. In February, a 555.55-carat black diamond offered at public sale for $4.28 million, which set a file for the biggest diamond ever auctioned.
Additional Studying
A $30 Million Chicken Egg: Christie’s Brings White Diamond to Auction (Bloomberg)
Diamond Rebound Rolls On as De Beers Reports Another Bumper Sale (Bloomberg)
Enigma Black Diamond Sells For $4.3 Million At Public sale (Forbes)
You Can Purchase The Largest Diamond Ever Auctioned—A 555 Carat Black Gem—With Crypto (Images) (Forbes)
