Editor’s Note
This article highlights the record-breaking auction of “The Rock,” a 228.31-carat pear-shaped diamond that became the largest white diamond ever sold at auction during Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale.
With its 228.31 carats, “The Rock” dominated the Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale on May 11.
In March, Christie’s announced the Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale, featuring the largest white diamond ever to be auctioned as its star. The diamond, named “The Rock,” is a 228.31-carat pear-shaped diamond that headlined the Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale as part of Christie’s Luxury Week. This exceptionally rare natural diamond was recovered and polished in South Africa over two decades ago and was sold on this occasion for $21.9 million.
Rahul Kadakia, International Head of Jewelry at Christie’s, made this statement.
Graded by the Gemological Institute of America as color G and clarity VS1, The Rock is also accompanied by a letter from GIA stating it is the largest D-Z color pear-shaped diamond ever graded by the laboratory.
To put this monumental diamond into perspective, the previous auction record for the largest white diamond was a 163.41-carat gem, sold at Christie’s Geneva in November 2017 for $33,701,000. Even considering all discovered diamonds not presented at auction, The Rock takes its place among the top 10 largest white diamonds to have ever existed. It shares this honor with the largest existing cut white diamond, The Cullinan I, which resides in the jewelry box of the Queen as part of the British Crown Jewels.
“The Rock” was unveiled at Christie’s Dubai from March 26 to 29, before embarking on a tour to Taipei and New York’s Rockefeller Plaza from April 29 to May 1. This exceptional diamond was then exhibited to the public during Christie’s Luxury Week at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva from May 6 to 11.