17-05-2018
Two of the largest and purest diamonds fetched a combined total of CHF17.4 million (US$17.4 million) at Sotheby’s Geneva on 15 May 2018. The Farnese Blue blue diamond with historic importance soared to CHF6.7 million. All three diamonds were brought to auction for the first time.
The two white diamonds, 51.71-carat round (photo 1) and 50.39-carat oval (photo 2), were both discovered in Botswana and are perfect in terms of all criteria: D-colour, flawless and Type IIa. They were sold for CHF9.3 million and CHF8.1 million respectively, well above the high estimate.
The Farnese Blue blue diamond (photo 3) was once the wedding gift for the queen of Spain Elisabeth Farnese in 1715. After being passed down through four of the most important royal families in Europe, the blue diamond finally came to the market after three centuries in the same family.
The Geneva sale, generated a grand total of CHF86 million, has created no fewer than five auction records, including record price for a fancy light purplish pink diamond (and record price per carat), record price for a fancy vivid purplish pink diamond (photo 4), record price for a pink sapphire, etc. (Photo courtesy: Sotheby's Geneva)
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