Editor’s Note
This article has been updated to clarify that the ‘Infinite Blue’ diamond was sold in a private transaction for $25.3 million, which was slightly below its pre-sale public estimate.
Even if you’re not getting married, this “something blue” is worth your time! The 11.28-carat, vivid blue ‘Infinite Blue’ diamond was sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong on Thursday for an estimated $26 to $37 million. Blue diamonds remain highly sought after, with the next auction scheduled at Christie’s in November.
The diamond sold slightly below this range, with a buyer paying $25.3 million for the stone in a private sale.
The most expensive blue diamond ever auctioned in Asia was the “De Beers Cullinan Blue Diamond,” or “De Beers Blue” for short. The 15.10-carat, step-cut, vivid blue diamond was sold last year at Sotheby’s Hong Kong for $57.5 million and is one of the most expensive jewels ever sold at auction. Like the De Beers Blue, the Infinite Blue also originated from the Cullinan Mine of Petra Diamonds in South Africa.
The second most expensive blue diamond auctioned in Asia was the “De Beers Millennium Jewel 4,” one of a dozen diamonds assembled by De Beers to mark the millennium in 2000. The 10.10-carat, oval, vivid blue diamond was sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 2016 for $31.8 million.
Another blue diamond will shine later this auction season when Christie’s Geneva offers the 17.61-carat “Bleu Royal” diamond in November. Christie’s claims it is the largest internally flawless, vivid blue diamond ever offered at auction and estimates the pear-shaped stone will sell for $35 to $50 million.