Editor’s Note
This article highlights the upcoming auction of “The Perfect Pink,” a remarkable 14.23-carat fancy intense pink diamond. Prized for its exceptional color, clarity, and cut, this rare gem underscores the enduring allure and record-breaking potential of the world’s most coveted jewels.
Christie’s will present a rare and magnificent 14.23-carat rectangular-cut fancy intense pink VVS2 diamond, named “The Perfect Pink,” at its “Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite” auction on November 29. “The Perfect Pink” is not only impressive in size but also boasts a rich, pure color without any impurities, combined with a brilliant cut that reveals its extraordinary beauty.
Over the past 244 years of auctions, only 18 pink diamonds weighing over 10 carats have appeared, and “The Perfect Pink” is the only one graded as Fancy Intense Pink, making it exceptionally rare and precious. This gem is a wonder of the jewelry world, with an estimated value ranging from HK$110 million to HK$150 million (US$14 million to US$19 million).
Since the first pink diamond was mined from ancient Indian mines, collectors have regarded it as the most beautiful gem. Large pink diamonds are extremely rare at auctions, making the 14.23-carat “The Perfect Pink” the star lot of the season. In fact, a pink diamond with such a rich, captivating color and massive size is unprecedented; less than 10% of pink diamonds exceed 0.20 carats.
Most pink diamonds carry secondary hues like purple, orange, or gray, but this pink diamond is completely free of such tones, making it pure and flawless, and exceedingly rare both in the market and in nature. Only such a deep pink hue with perfect balance, saturation, and tone meets the requirements for the “Fancy Intense” color grade set by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). According to GIA clarity grades, most pink diamonds are SI grade, but this 14.23-carat pink diamond is almost free of inclusions. Like most Type IIa pink diamonds, due to internal graining, it is graded VVS2. Furthermore, this beautiful diamond is set with a brilliant, elegant long rectangular cut typically used only for white diamonds, highlighting its nobility. Most colored diamonds also employ special cuts to enhance their color, but this diamond’s color is so rich and beautiful that it requires no additional facets for enhancement; the long rectangular cut alone is enough to release its captivating charm. “The Perfect Pink” possesses a uniquely enchanting charm and outstanding quality, destined to attract collectors from around the world.
Regardless of era, fancy intense pink diamonds are extremely scarce in the market. To date, only 18 pure pink diamonds weighing over 10 carats have been auctioned, but none can rival the color tone and saturation of “The Perfect Pink.”
Christie’s has auctioned several world-renowned large pink diamonds, including “The Agra,” a 32.24-carat cushion-cut light pink diamond (VS1 clarity), which sold for US$6,959,780 at a Christie’s London auction in June 1990. There is also “The Rose of Dubai,” a 25.02-carat pear-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond ring (Type IIa diamond), which sold for US$6,008,000 at a Christie’s New York auction in October 2005.
At Christie’s Hong Kong autumn auction on December 1, 2009, “The Vivid Pink,” a nearly perfect 5.00-carat cushion-cut pink diamond ring, made history by selling for a record-breaking price of US$10,776,660, averaging US$2,155,332 per carat. This not only set a world auction record per carat for any gemstone but also broke the world auction record for pink diamonds, surpassing the previous record held by a 7.03-carat cushion-cut blue diamond that sold for US$9,488,754 (averaging US$1,349,752 per carat). Since then, pink diamonds have been recognized by the auction world as the most expensive colored diamonds, with per-carat values remaining exceptionally high.
“The Perfect Pink” will be auctioned at Christie’s Hong Kong “Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite” auction on November 29. Prior to the auction, it will be exhibited in the following cities: