The exceptionally rare Bleu Royal gem is set to become one of the most expensive diamonds ever sold by auctioneers at Christie’s when it goes under the hammer on Tuesday.
The Bleu Royal is the star lot in a series of sales in Geneva this month which feature items from movie history including pearls worn by Audrey Hepburn and Marlon Brando‘s self-engraved watch.
Weighing 17.61 carats, the Bleu Royal is the largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue gem ever to appear for sale in auction history.
The stone is expected to fetch $35 million to $50 million in Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction.
The vivid blue diamond 'Bleu Royal' – which is set in a ring – is among the rarest ever to be unearthed. At 17.6 carats, it is also the largest of its kind https://t.co/Pw56AKXxKz pic.twitter.com/Uy6F4dIkye
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 2, 2023
“It’s going to be one of the top 10 jewels sold at Christie’s ever, in terms of value,” Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s international head of jewelry, told AFP.
Bleu Royal diamond “top of its class”
The diamond, set in a ring, has been in a private collection for 50 years.
Kadakia said lots of modern-colored diamonds had a modified cut to enhance the color.
In the Bleu Royal’s case, “the rough material itself was so rich that they were able to cut it into a classic brilliant faceting style,” he said.
“It checks all the boxes — really top of its class.”
Fancy vivid blue diamonds weighing more than 10 carats are exceptionally rare. Since Christie’s was founded in 1766, only three such stones have appeared for sale — all in the last 13 years.
The Bulgari Blue sold for nearly $15.8 million in 2010; the Winston Blue fetched $23.8 million in 2014, and the Oppenheimer Blue realized $57.5 million in 2016.
Blue diamonds are extremely rare, accounting for less than 1% of all diamonds mined. Their color is caused by the presence of boron impurities in the diamond’s carbon structure, and boron is a very rare trace element.
They are highly sought after by collectors and investors alike, due to their beauty, rarity, and investment potential. This high demand drives up the price of blue diamonds.
Last year a rare pink diamond, offered by a collector in Boca Raton, Florida and described as one of the most beautiful diamonds in the world, has sold at a record price of $49.9 million in Hong Kong.
The total cost for the winning bidder will climb to $57.7 million, including the buyer’s premium added on top of the hammer price.
Cut from a rough of 32.32 carats to a polished stone of 11.15 carats, the Williamson Pink Star is exceptionally rare and unique thanks to its internally flawless clarity, vivid hue, and large size. All three elements are very unusual for pink diamonds.
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