Editor’s Note
The recent sale of the “Mellon Blue” diamond for over $25 million at Christie’s underscores the enduring allure and immense value of rare colored gemstones. This transaction not only marks a significant moment in the luxury auction market but also highlights the historical ranking of such extraordinary blue diamonds.
The iconic jewel known as the “Mellon Blue”, a diamond classified as Fancy Vivid Blue and weighing 9.51 carats, has been sold for 20,525,000 Swiss francs — equivalent to $25,592,269 — at a recent Christie’s auction. The piece thus becomes the third most expensive intense blue diamond ever sold by Christie’s, surpassed only by the “Oppenheimer Blue” (14.62 carats, $57.5 million) and the “Bleu Royal” (17.61 carats, $39.5 million).
The gem belonged to Rachel Lambert “Mimi” Mellon (1910–2014), also known as “Bunny” Mellon. A philanthropist, art collector, and recognized landscape designer with influence on places like the White House Rose Garden, Mellon bequeathed a jewel that transcends its raw material.
When Rachel acquired this pear-shaped blue diamond, it weighed a prodigious 9.75 carats. The stone’s rich color has been classified as “Fancy Vivid”, a rare category representing less than one percent of all blue diamonds, which are already incredibly elusive. It has also been graded as “Internally Flawless”.
In 2014, the jewel was auctioned for the first time at Sotheby’s, reaching $32.6 million at the time. Following the sale of the Mellon Blue back then, the owner had the stone recut to improve its clarity, which altered the weight to 9.51 carats, and reset it from a pendant to a serpentine pavé ring. Inside the shank, the words “Fancy Vivid Blue” are engraved.
Its price was the top lot of the night, setting a new world record for a blue diamond, as well as the highest price paid per carat for any diamond.
Thus, a decade later, it returns to the market maintaining its status as one of the most coveted gems on the planet and setting new records.
Its intense blue hue — rare, hypnotic, almost ethereal — and its impeccable cut make it a piece of absolute desire. But its true value lies in its history: a legacy of art, elegance, and sensibility that transcends generations.
The Mellon Blue joins a select group of diamonds that have marked the history of international auctions. Here are some of the most valuable jewels that have gone under the hammer:
| Name | Color and Carat Weight | Price Achieved | Year / Auction House |
| :— | :— | :— | :— |
| The Pink Star | Fancy Vivid Pink – 59.60 ct | $71.2 million | Sotheby’s 2017 |
| Oppenheimer Blue | Fancy Vivid Blue – 14.62 ct | $57.5 million | Christie’s 2016 |
| The Pink Legacy | Fancy Vivid Pink – 18.96 ct | $50 million | Christie’s 2018 |
| Blue Moon of Josephine | Fancy Vivid Blue – 12.03 ct | $48.4 million | Sotheby’s 2015 |
| Graff Pink | Fancy Intense Pink – 24.78 ct | $46 million | Sotheby’s 2010 |
| **Mellon Blue** | **Fancy Vivid Blue – 9.51 ct** | **$25.5 million** | **Christie’s 2025** |
Although the Mellon Blue does not break absolute records, its impact lies in the revaluation of blue as a symbol of serenity, wisdom, and power. In a market where pink diamonds dominated recent decades, this return to intense blue reveals an emotional trend.
Furthermore, according to analysts, this sale confirms other key trends such as the revaluation of rarity, as colored diamonds remain a safe haven for collectors and investment funds; the power of storytelling and the jewel as a cultural asset, as they represent symbols of legacy, heritage, and timeless beauty more than just a material investment. Also, a generational shift: new generations seek luxury with purpose, emotional value, and authenticity, not just exclusivity.
In an economic context where the price of gold and other precious metals reaches historic highs, these pieces act as safe-haven assets and, at the same time, as expressions of cultural identity.