The Largest Vibrant Blue Diamond Ever To Be Offered By Sotheby - 2 minutes read
Image: Sotheby’s
This springtime, Sotheby‘s Hong Kong is auctioning a 15.10-carat extravagant blue diamond. The De Beers Cullinan Blue is approximated to have the best buck amount ever placed on a blue diamond cut at auction, with a massive US$ 48 million. It will certainly also be the largest vibrant blue diamond ever to be offered. After which, global firm De Beers and diamond manufacturer Diacore got the rare gem for US$ 40.2 million. The De Beers Cullinan Blue is defined as the largest internally remarkable vivid blue diamond ever before graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
According to ARTnews, chairman of Sotheby’s Asia Patti Wong claimed, “nothing of remotely similar calibre has appeared at auction in recent years”. During a Sotheby’s sale in Geneva in 2015, the international broker established the record at US$ 48 million for the most pricey diamond ever before sold at public auction with Blue Moon of Josephine. The 14.62-carat regular-cut Oppenheimer Blue overtook the record with a price of US$ 57.5 million in May 2016.
According To Wenhao Yu, chairman of jewellery and watches for Sotheby’s Asia, the blue diamond gets on par with several of the finest jobs by Monet, Picasso, Botticelli and Warhol. Provided its rarity and also value, Sotheby’s is anticipating worldwide bidders, particularly purchasers from Greater China. The marketplace made up more than 70 per cent of Sotheby’s Hong Kong sales in 2021.
“In 2021, Hong Kong sales were all led by diamond pieces, particularly coloured diamonds which continue to see strong demand,” Yu said.
Image: Sotheby’s
The magnificent diamond was unveiled on 17 February in New york city and will be touring exhibition spaces in London, Dubai, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen as well as Taipei. It will be auctioned off in April, during the Sotheby’s Hong Kong Luxury Week.
#AuctionUpdate 'The Enigma': This 555.55 carat Black Diamond sold today for £3,161,000 / $4,292,322. The buyer has opted to use cryptocurrency for the purchase. #SothebysJewels pic.twitter.com/ZuiL9SxET8
— Sotheby's () February 9, 2022
In other diamond auction news, the 555.5-carat black diamond, namely “The Enigma”, was offered on 10 February 2022 for US$ 4.29 million through cryptocurrency.