12-11-2020
The Spirit of the Rose, the world’s largest vivid purple-pink diamond hammered for US$26.6 million at the Sotheby’s Geneva sale, is now the most expensive purple-pink diamond ever to sell at auction.
Mined and cut from a 27.85-carat rough by Alrosa three years ago, the 14.83-carat is named after a Russian ballet premiered in 1911. The stone is classified as internally flawless. According to Sotheby’s, only one percent of all pink diamonds are larger than 10 carats and only four percent of all pink diamonds are graded 'Fancy Vivid' and display a rich and vivid colour. It was sold to an anonymous telephone bidder.
Benoit Repellin, head of Sotheby’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction, commented: “It fully deserves the price achieved tonight, which is also a testament to the growing appreciation, and awareness of the great scarcity of pink diamonds around the world. With the supply of these beautiful stones becoming ever more limited, these gems are likely to continue to become even more prized.”