Editor’s Note
This article details the record-breaking $43.8 million sale of the “Bleu Royal,” a 17.6-carat vivid blue diamond, at Christie’s Geneva. It stands as the largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond ever offered at auction.
Auctioneers announced that the largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond ever to appear at auction was sold for a staggering $43.8 million at Christie’s Rare Jewels sale in Geneva on Tuesday, November 7.
This vivid blue diamond, known as the “Bleu Royal” and set on a ring, is one of the rarest diamonds ever unearthed. Weighing 17.6 carats, it carried a pre-sale estimate of up to $50 million.
Max Fawcett, Head of Jewellery at Christie’s Geneva, highlighted the diamond’s unique deep, intense blue color and its unmodified, bright pear shape.
The pear-shaped blue diamond had been in a single private collection for the past 50 years before coming to market. The Bleu Royal was ultimately won by Isaac Choi (South China Managing Director) bidding on behalf of telephone bidder number “9755”, with the buyer likely from Asia.
The color of blue diamonds originates from trace amounts of boron within the crystal structure, randomly incorporated during formation deep in the earth’s crust. Statistically, blue diamonds account for only 0.02% of diamond mining, with only 1% reaching the highest fancy vivid color grade.
The pear cut enhances the diamond’s light refraction, with the facets releasing a natural brilliance that highlights the teardrop’s delicacy while presenting a star-like radiance.
At Tuesday’s auction, Christie’s sold dozens of rare jewels totaling over $77 million.
In a separate auction on Monday, Christie’s sold a Rolex watch worn by Marlon Brando in the 1979 film “Apocalypse Now” for over 4.5 million Swiss francs ($4.99 million). The famous actor had engraved his signature on the back of the watch to prevent accidental swaps during filming. The same watch sold at auction for 2 million Swiss francs two years ago.