A 48 million dollar diamond
In April 2022, enthusiasts from around the world are preparing for a record-breaking auction! In Hong Kong, one of the most important auctions ever will take place, featuring an undisputed star: a diamond worth 48 million dollars. Let’s find out more...
A diamond auctioned by Sotheby
Sotheby's is a British auction house among the most important, with hundreds of branches worldwide. Its historic headquarters is on New Bond Street, London. In the April auction, it will handle the sale of the highest valued diamond in the world.
Fancy Blue: the "De Beers Cullinan Blue"
The diamond in question belongs to the group of "fancy" diamonds, thanks to its wonderful blue colour. It weighs about 15 carats and its price is around 48 million dollars, equivalent to about 42 million euros. An astonishing sum, even surpassing Botticelli’s paintings, which have sold at auction for up to 45.5 million dollars.
The blue diamond has been named the "De Beers Cullinan Blue" and comes from a rough stone of about 40 carats. Before the "De Beers Cullinan Blue," another fancy vivid blue diamond had attracted the top bidders. This was the "Oppenheimer," sold for about 57 million dollars. However, the shade of this new diamond is more unique and rare, likely making it more precious.
Moreover, the Gemological Institute of America specified that the "De Beers" is internally flawless, meaning internally perfect, without defects or inclusions.
Where the name comes from
The rough stone from which the "De Beers" derives was discovered in South Africa, in the Cullinan mine (hence the name), in 2021. It was then purchased by the diamond processing company De Beers, together with partner Diacore. The beautiful blue shade is due to traces of boron within the diamond’s crystal lattice.
Other blue diamonds
There have been only 5 blue diamonds over 10 carats sold at auction, yet the "De Beers" already claims the title of the most beautiful ever seen. This is also thanks to its step cut, usually reserved for white diamonds, but perfect to highlight its purity.
The earliest records of this type of stone date back to the seventeenth century. The first to discover a blue diamond was Jean Baptiste Tavernier, who sold it to King Louis XIV of France. For this reason, the diamond was nicknamed French Blue, but passing down through generations, it became better known as the "Hope." Today this stone, weighing 45 carats, still exists and is displayed at the Smithsonian museum in Washington.
In short: the "De Beers Cullinan Blue" is surely destined to become part of history. Who knows if, in a few hundred years, it too will be displayed in a museum. Exciting times lie ahead!
