Editor’s Note
The world’s largest blue diamond, the De Beers Cullinan Blue, has shattered expectations at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong, selling for a price exceeding its pre-sale valuation.
The De Beers Cullinan Blue, the world’s largest blue diamond, has exceeded its own valuation in an auction held recently by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong.
The precious stone, weighing 15.10 carats, was valued at 44 million euros. An anonymous buyer ultimately acquired it for over 54 million euros. The blue diamond fell short by a mere 50,000 euros of breaking the record to also become the most expensive in the world, a title currently held by the Oppenheimer Blue (14.62 carats) sold in 2016.
When Wong states that this diamond “is the rarest of all,” she is not wrong. Due to its impressive size and because the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) once categorized the jewel as “fancy vivid blue,” the highest color grade, which has been awarded to no more than 1% of blue diamonds submitted to the organization.
On May 11th, we will witness another historic auction: Christie’s will offer in Geneva a 228.3-carat white diamond, also the largest of its category, for which the British house aims to receive around 28 million euros.
