The largest and most valuable blue diamond set to be auctioned in Hong Kong

Sotheby’s announced in April that it would auction the largest blue diamond ever sold in Hong Kong.

Wednesday’s auction house said it expects a 15.10 carat De Beers Cullinan blue diamond to sell for more than $ 48 million.

Frank Everett, Senior Vice President and Sales Director of Jewelery at Sotheby’s, said jewelery is noteworthy on many levels.

“It’s rare because of its size. It’s over 15 carats. It’s a bright blue.” He said.

“Currently, the jewelery market is very strong and has been really going on for the last few years, but one of the strongest segments is colored diamonds and one of the strongest colors is blue.”

Sotheby’s said in a statement that the diamond is the “largest internally perfect step-cut bright blue diamond” ever scored by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

According to a press release, this sale is the first time a blue diamond over 15 carats has been placed under a hammer.

Diamonds previewed in New York this week will be available on the undecided day of Hong Kong Luxury Week in April, according to Sotheby’s.

It was cut from a rough stone found at the Cullinan mine in South Africa in April 2021.

The diamond is larger than the 14.62 carat stone Oppenheimer Blue, which set the world record price for blue diamonds sold for $ 57.5 million in May 2016.

Earlier this month, Sotheby’s in London sold Enigma, the largest cut diamond to date, for $ 4.3 million (£ 3.16 million) at 555.55 carats.

Source: TRTWorld and distributors