Top 20 Highest-Priced Diamond Lots in Global Auctions 2024

Despite a sluggish global economy in 2024, how did the auction battle staged by top auction houses like Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips fare? Let’s review the top 20 highest-priced diamond lots sold at global auctions in 2024.

2024 global diamond auctions generally exhibited the following trends:
1. Colored diamonds dominated the high-end market: Pink and red diamonds saw soaring prices due to depleted sources (e.g., closure of the Argyle mine), with Fancy Vivid grades being the most sought-after.
2. Significant brand premium: Design premiums for brands like Cartier and Tiffany exceeded 30%, with growing demand for antique jewelry and unique designs.
3. Active Asian market, with younger demographics entering through digital channels.

With both enchanting color and dazzling brilliance, colored diamonds are the most valuable gemstones on Earth. Unsurprisingly, the top three spots in the 2024 global auction rankings were all taken by colored diamonds, with the “champion” being the “Eden Rose” pink diamond from Christie’s New York spring sale.

At Christie’s New York spring sale in 2024, a 10.20-carat Fancy Intense pink diamond named “Eden Rose” sold for a staggering HKD 104 million (approximately USD 13.3 million), becoming the dazzling highlight of the year’s jewelry auctions.

Its design showcases exceptional craftsmanship: the main stone is set in an 18K rose gold and white gold ring mount, flanked by pear-shaped diamonds ranging from 0.73 to 3.11 carats, resembling petals surrounding a pistil, interpreting the romantic寓意 of “eternal love.” The final price far exceeded its pre-sale estimate of USD 9-12 million, confirming the strong appreciation potential of top-tier colored diamonds driven by scarcity of sources like the closed Argyle mine.

The runner-up was a 6.21-carat Fancy Vivid Pink diamond ring sold at Phillips Geneva in May 2024.
– Color: Fancy Vivid Pink, oval cut
– An Asian collector paid a premium, setting a record high per-carat price for pink diamonds.
– Colored diamond and diamond ring
– Oval Fancy Vivid pink diamond, approx. 6.21 carats
– Natural color, VS1 clarity, Type IIa
– Flanked by kite-shaped diamonds
– Estimate: CHF 9,540,000 – CHF 13,630,000
– Hammer Price: CHF 10,869,500
– May 2024, Phillips Geneva

The third place went to a 5.72-carat blue diamond ring sold for USD 8,805,000 at Christie’s New York in December 2024.
– Colored diamond ring
– Cushion brilliant-cut blue diamond, approx. 5.72 carats
– Fancy Intense Blue, VVS1 clarity, Type IIb
– Estimate: USD 6,000,000 – USD 8,000,000
– Hammer Price: USD 8,805,000
– December 2024, Christie’s New York

Here are other notable entries in the 2024 global top 20 diamond auction lots:

– **Colored Diamond and Diamond Earrings**: Pair of oval brilliant-cut Fancy Vivid Orange-Yellow diamonds, approx. 12.20 & 11.96 carats. Estimate: HKD 50,000,000 – 80,000,000. Hammer Price: HKD 62,025,000. October 2024, Christie’s Hong Kong.
– **”The Yellow Rose”**: Pear-shaped brilliant-cut yellow diamond, approx. 202.18 carats, Fancy Intense Yellow, SL1 clarity. Hammer Price: CHF 6,095,000. May 2024, Christie’s Geneva.
– **”The Maharaja Necklace”** by Van Cleef & Arpels: Diamond necklace over 160 carats, featuring three pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamonds of 25.50ct, 11.24ct, and 11.13ct. Estimate: CHF 3,500,000–5,000,000. Hammer Price: CHF 5,490,000. November 2024, Christie’s Geneva.
– **”Fortune Star”**: Oval brilliant-cut white diamond, approx. 55.55 carats, GIA certified D color, Flawless clarity, Type IIa. Hammer Price: USD 5,800,000. April 2024, Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
– **Cartier Diamond Necklace**: 130-140 carats, largest three stones: 10.58ct, 7.80ct, and 7.24ct round brilliant cuts. Estimate: CHF 900,000–1,300,000. Hammer Price: CHF 4,461,500. November 2024, Christie’s Geneva.
– **Diamond Necklace**: 300 carats. Hammer Price: CHF 4,260,000. November 2024, Sotheby’s Geneva.
– **Cushion Brilliant-Cut White Diamond**: Approx. 37.61 carats, GIA certified E color, IF clarity. Estimate: CHF 1,460,000–2,370,000. Hammer Price: CHF 3,871,500. May 2024, Sotheby’s Geneva.
– **2.68ct Pink-Purple Diamond**: Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink, IF clarity. Estimate: HKD 31,500,000–50,000,000. Hammer Price: HKD 33,650,000. May 2024, Christie’s Hong Kong.
– **”Argyle Phoenix” 1.56ct Red Diamond Ring**: Fancy Red, sourced from Australia’s Argyle mine. Estimate: USD 1,000,000–1,610,000. Hammer Price: USD 4,230,000 (record per-carat price of USD 2.71 million for red diamonds). May 2024, Phillips Geneva.
– **Cushion Brilliant-Cut Orange-Yellow Diamond**: Approx. 7.01 carats. Hammer Price: HKD 29,490,000. May 2024, Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
– **Purple-Pink Diamond (5.13ct) & Blue Diamond Ring (5.03ct)**: Hammer Price: HKD 29,490,000. June 2024, Bonhams London.
– **Diamond Necklace**: Hammer Price: USD 3,600,000. June 2024, Sotheby’s New York.
– **Pear-Shaped Brilliant-Cut Diamond**: 53.04 carats. Hammer Price: USD 3,480,000. June 2024, Sotheby’s New York.
– **7ct Pink-Purple Diamond**: Fancy Intense Purplish-Pink, IF clarity. Estimate: USD 3,250,000–4,250,000. Hammer Price: USD 3,420,000. December 2024, Sotheby’s New York.
– **Emerald-Cut Orange-Pink Diamond**: Approx. 12.52 carats. Hammer Price: CHF 2,880,000. November 2024, Sotheby’s Geneva.
– **Marquise Brilliant-Cut Blue Diamond Ring** by Cartier: Main stone approx. 4.39 carats, Fancy Vivid Blue, SI2 clarity. Estimate: HKD 25,000,000 – 35,000,000. Hammer Price: HKD 23,365,000. October 2024, Christie’s Hong Kong.
– **Purple-Pink Diamond Ring**: Main stone approx. 9.17 carats, Fancy Light purplish pink, VVS1 clarity. Estimate: HKD 1,500,000 – 2,500,000. Hammer Price: HKD 22,155,000. May 2024, Christie’s Hong Kong.
– **Diamond Necklace**: 100.05 carats. Estimate: HKD 18,500,000 – 28,000,000. Hammer Price: HKD 22,155,000. October 2024, Christie’s Hong Kong.

Source of lots: Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Phillips, etc.