Editor’s Note
This article details the recent sale of an exceptionally rare 88.22-carat diamond at Sotheby’s Hong Kong. The gem’s flawless quality and pure chemical composition make it a remarkable specimen, highlighting the enduring allure of the world’s most extraordinary natural treasures.
A Japanese private collector won the bid for an 88.22-carat oval diamond at the Sotheby’s Hong Kong Jewellery Auction held in April. This diamond is of the highest quality, graded D color, Flawless, and Type IIa. While most diamonds contain impurities such as nitrogen, Type IIa diamonds are composed purely of carbon and are extremely rare, accounting for less than 2% of all diamonds.
This was only the third time in auction history that an oval diamond over 50 carats has appeared. The carat weight of 88, featuring two instances of the number 8—considered a lucky number symbolizing perfection, prosperity, and eternity in China and other Asian countries—drew significant attention.
After a bidding war among three participants, the Japanese private collector secured the diamond for HKD 108 million (approximately JPY 1.542 billion / USD 13.8 million), exceeding the pre-sale estimate of HKD 88-100 million (approximately JPY 1.256-1.428 billion).