Editor’s Note
This article details a record-breaking auction purchase by a Hong Kong tycoon, who acquired three diamonds for his young daughter. The story highlights the extraordinary value of the gems and the personal nature of the acquisition.
A Hong Kong tycoon has won the auction for the most expensive diamond ever sold. This father in his 60s has bought three diamonds for his 7-year-old daughter, with a total value of 100 billion won. The diamonds are even named after his daughter.
At a gem auction held in Geneva, Switzerland, a 12.03-carat blue diamond known as the “Blue Moon” was sold for a record-breaking price. The person who acquired this diamond, which received the highest grade of “Fancy Vivid” for its color and transparency, is Hong Kong real estate tycoon Joseph Lau.
Sotheby’s reported that Lau renamed the auctioned diamond “The Blue Moon of Josephine” after his daughter. Josephine is the name of his 7-year-old daughter from his relationship with former entertainment journalist Chan Hoi-wan. The total price of the three ultra-expensive diamonds Lau purchased and named “Josephine” amounts to approximately 100 billion won.
Lau also named a 16.08-carat top-grade pink diamond he won at auction the day before, as well as a blue diamond he bought for about 11 billion won in 2009, after his daughter.
Lau, now 64, was born in Hong Kong, graduated from university in Canada, and then entered the family business of manufacturing ceiling fans. He accumulated his wealth through corporate mergers and acquisitions. He has shown deep interest in art auctions, having previously won bids for famous artworks such as Andy Warhol’s “Mao Zedong” and Paul Gauguin’s “Morning.”
