A remarkable blue diamond has commanded a staggering sum of over $40 million (£32 million) at a recent Christie’s auction in Geneva, as reported by news agencies.
The Bleu Royal diamond, boasting an exquisite 17.61 carat pear-shaped cut and set in an elegant ring, ultimately sold for a remarkable $43.8 million.
According to Christie’s, this gem stands as the “largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue” ever to grace an auction, marking a significant moment in the history of fine jewelry sales.
Having been part of a private collection for a remarkable 50 years, this marked the very first occasion the Bleu Royal was presented for auction, adding to its allure and exclusivity.
In a statement, Christie said, “This diamond is amongst the rarest to have been unearthed.” The auction house noted that in its extensive 250-year history, only three fancy vivid blue diamonds exceeding 10 carats have been offered for sale, occurring in 2010, 2014, and 2016.
Notably, the 14.62 carat Oppenheimer Blue fetched a staggering $57 million in 2016, setting a notable benchmark.
Max Fawcett, the Head of Jewelry at Christie’s in Geneva, conveyed his extreme satisfaction with the sale, stating, “We are extremely pleased.”
He went on to highlight that this sale marked the single most expensive jewelry lot sold by any auction house globally throughout 2023.
In a separate sale on Monday, Christie’s also secured a Rolex watch famously worn by US actor Marlon Brando in the iconic film “Apocalypse Now” for an approximate $5 million.
The watch, featuring a hand-engraved “M. Brando” on its back, garnered significant attention and interest.
Additionally, Christie’s is presently conducting an online auction for a pearl necklace worn by the legendary Audrey Hepburn in the final scene of the classic film “Roman Holiday.”
This exclusive sale is set to run from November 3rd to the 16th.