Editor’s Note
This article previews the upcoming auction of “The Rock,” a 228.31-carat diamond estimated to fetch $20–30 million. If you are interested in the details of this exceptional gem and its record-breaking potential, read the full story.
With its 228.31 carats, the diamond “The Rock” is the largest ever put up for sale. Its price, estimated at between 20 and 30 million dollars, could reach new heights next Wednesday.
The largest white diamond ever to be auctioned will be offered next Wednesday in Geneva, alongside a historic canary yellow diamond, with part of the proceeds from the sale going to the Red Cross. Max Fawcett, head of the jewelry department at Christie’s in Geneva, told AFP:
The price of the precious stone, whose owner is from North America but remains anonymous, could reach record levels. Max Fawcett added:
According to the expert, only a “handful” of diamonds of this caliber exist. Christie’s last record for a similar white diamond (163.41 carats) brought the stone to $33.7 million at a sale in November 2017 in Geneva. “The Rock,” which is taller than a golf ball, was mined in South Africa in the early 2000s. It was later sold by Christie’s in a private treaty sale to a private collector.
On Wednesday, bidders will also have the chance to acquire “The Red Cross Diamond,” a 205.07-carat cushion-shaped canary yellow diamond. Max Fawcett stated:
The original gem was mined in 1901 from a De Beers mine in South Africa and is said to have weighed about 375 carats, according to Christie’s. In addition to ranking among the world’s largest diamonds, a striking feature of the stone is its pavilion, which is naturally faceted in the shape of a Maltese cross.
On April 10, 1918, the stone was first sold at Christie’s in London by the Diamond Syndicate, for the benefit of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John (known as the Order of Malta). At the time, the diamond was sold for £10,000 (approximately £600,000 today, or over €700,000). It was purchased by the famous London jeweler SJ Phillips.
On November 21, 1973, it was sold again at Christie’s in Geneva, for 1.8 million francs. It is now being offered by Christie’s for the third time. The seller wished to remain anonymous but issued this statement:
Several other diamonds will be offered on Wednesday, as well as a tiara that belonged to the Princess of Fürstenberg (1867-1948), a member of one of the most important aristocratic families of the Habsburg Empire. Its price is estimated between 400,000 and 600,000 francs. Max Fawcett explained: