The Oppenheimer Blue became the most expensive gemstone ever sold at auction in May 2016. We look back at some of the other exceptional diamonds Christie’s has handled
- Collecting Guides
- Luxury
The Oppenheimer Blue
JEWELSThe Oppenheimer Blue — a ‘legendary’ diamondRead more
At 14.62 carats, the breathtaking Oppenheimer Blue — named after Sir PhilipOppenheimer of De Beers fame — is the largest Fancy Vivid Blue ever to come toauction. It is the latest in a line of historic blue diamonds to have beenauctioned at Christie’s which includes the Tereshchenko in 1984 and theWittelsbach Blue in 2008.
François Curiel, Chairman of Christie's Asia Pacific and China, observes:‘Blue diamonds have gained a wider following, not only because they arestunning, but because there are so few of them available in the world. TheOppenheimer Blue is one of the rarest gems in the world. It is the gem ofgems.’
The Perfect Pink
The Perfect Pink. A superb coloured diamond and diamond ring. Set with a rectangular-shaped fancy intense pink diamond weighing 14.23carats, flanked on either side by a rectangular-shaped diamond weighing 1.73and 1.67 carats, mounted in 18k rose and white gold. Sold for:HK$179,860,000 ($23,274,064) on 29 November 2010 at Christie’s in HongKong
Since they were first discovered in India, pink diamonds have been consideredamong the most beautiful of gemstones. At 14.23 carats, The Perfect Pink isparticularly rare, with polished pink diamonds of its size and colourvirtually unheard of — fewer than 10 per cent of all pink diamonds weigh morethan 0.20 carats.
While most pink diamonds show some elements of purple, orange or grey, ThePerfect Pink is just that, showing absolutely no trace of secondary colour.Completely devoid of inclusions, the diamond was sold in Hong Kong in 2010 for$23,274,064.
The Yellow
A magnificent coloured diamond ring.Set with a cushion modified brilliant-cut Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond,weighing approximately 75.56 carats, ring size 6, mounted in 18k gold. Soldfor: $3,609,000
This exceptional gem possesses a soft cushion-shaped silhouette with modifiedcutting style, and is a sensational example of a Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond.Simply set as a ring within a streamlined yellow gold setting, the Fancy VividYellow diamond requires no further ornamentation. To find a stone ofapproximately 75.56 carats graded a Fancy Vivid Yellow by the GIA is a rareoccurrence in today’s marketplace.
The Orange
The Orange: The largest Fancy Vivid Orange diamond in the world. The Fancy Vivid Orange pear-shaped diamond weighing approximately 14.82carats. Sold for: CHF32,645,000 ($35,543,804) on 12 November 2013 atChristie’s in Geneva
When it was auctioned in 2013, The Orange was the largest Fancy Vivid Orangediamond ever to have been discovered, weighing approximately 14.82 carats. TheGIA commented: ‘In the laboratory’s experience, strongly coloured diamonds inthe orange hue range rarely exceed three of four carats in size when polished.This diamond is almost four times larger.’
Termed ‘fire diamonds’ by famous gemologist Edwin Streeter, pure orangediamonds remain incredibly rare, with so few having been graded that the exactcause of their colour remains a mystery. The diamond’s unique nature was reflected in its price, selling for $35,543,804 — more than $15million above its high estimate.
Flawless
A spectacular and highly important diamond, the pear-shaped diamondweighing approximately 101.73 carats. Sold for: CHF25,883,750 ($26,746,541) on 15 May 2013 at Christie’s inGeneva
In 2013, Christie’s auctioned one of the world’s most perfect diamonds, andone of the largest pear-shaped diamonds known to date — weighing in at anextraordinary 101.73 carats. Awarded the highest ‘D’ colour grade by theGemological Institute of America, the stone came with the coveted ‘Flawless’clarity, and was bought for $26,746,541.
Perfectly symmetrical, the finished diamond was produced from a rough diamondof 236 carats sourced in Botswana, and took 21 months to polish. ‘Just as agreat artist is able to “see” a masterpiece in a block of marble, a perfectdiamond is the result of the skill and vision of a master cutter who is ableto uncover beauty from a rough gem,’ explains International Head of JewelleryRahul Kadakia.
A pink masterpiece
The largest cushion-shaped Fancy Vivid Pink diamond at auction. Set with a cushion-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond, weighingapproximately 16.08 carats, within a diamond twin surround, to the pinkdiamond gallery and diamond-set hoop, ring size 6, mounted in platinum andgold. Sold for: CHF28,725,000 ($28,687,003)
Sold in Geneva on 10 November 2015,this cushion-shaped Fancy Vivid Pink diamondis the largest of its kind ever to come to auction, weighing in at 16.08carats. The stone is set in a ring, and is surrounded by a double row of pavéwhite diamonds, a third row of small pink diamonds nestled underneath.
‘As large and rare coloured diamonds of this calibre become increasingly hardto locate, this 16.08 carat Fancy Vivid Pink diamond comes to market at a timewhen great gems are mirroring prices achieved for masterpieces in the world offine art,’ comments Kadakia. Awarded to just one in 100,000 diamonds, the‘Fancy Vivid’ status is exceptionally rare, reflecting the depth of thediamond’s straight pink hue.
‘The Blue’
The Blue: Fancy Vivid Blue pear-shaped diamond, weighing approximately13.22 carats, flanked on either side by pear-shaped diamonds, weighingapproximately 1.00 and 0.96 carat. Sold for CHF21,445,000 ($24,202,829) on 14 May 2014 at Christie’s inGeneva
Weighing in at 13.22 carats, The Blue was sold as the largestFlawless Fancy Vivid Blue diamond in the world. Set in a ring, the pear-shapedstone came flanked by two pear-shaped white diamonds, weighing approximately1.00 and 0.96 carats. It was purchased by Harry Winston in Geneva in 2014 fora sum equating to just over $24 million.
For more features, interviews and videos, visitChristie’s Daily
