Editor’s Note
This article reports on the record-breaking auction of the “Mellon Blue” diamond in Geneva, which sold for over $25 million. The sale highlights the enduring allure and significant value of rare gemstones in the high-end market.
A brilliant blue diamond has been auctioned in Geneva for more than $25 million (approximately €22 million). The “Mellon Blue,” set in a serpent-shaped ring, achieved its pre-sale estimate of between $20 and $30 million, as announced by auction house Christie’s on Tuesday evening.
explained Christie’s jewelry director Rahud Kadakia prior to the sale.
The diamond was owned for decades by American horticultural architect, art collector, and philanthropist Rachel “Bunny” Lambert Mellon, who famously redesigned the White House Rose Garden in 1961 at the request of President John F. Kennedy.
The highest price ever paid for a blue diamond remains the “Oppenheimer Blue,” which was auctioned by Christie’s in 2016 for $57.5 million (approximately €50 million today).