Historical Auction: Giant Diamond "The Rock" Is Coming Up For Sale
The world's largest white diamond ever auctioned will go under the hammer at Christie's. "The Rock" will be part of a sale in Geneva that features two stones weighing more than 200 carats each.
"The Rock" is a 228.31-carat pear-shaped stone. It has the size of a small egg and is expected to sell for up to $30 million. The exceptionally rare gemstone will be available for auction on May 11.
"The Rock" was mined in South Africa almost 20 years ago and is coming up for sale at Christie's by his current owner.
"Often with these largest stones, they sacrifice some of the shapes in order to keep the weight. "This is a perfectly symmetrical pear-shaped form and ...one of the rarest gems ever to be sold at auction," Max Fawcett, the head of Christie's jewelry department in Geneva, told Reuters.
"The Rock" is a 228.31-carat pear-shaped stone. It has the size of a small egg and is expected to sell for up to $30 million. The exceptionally rare gemstone will be available for auction on May 11.
"The Rock" was mined in South Africa almost 20 years ago and is coming up for sale at Christie's by his current owner.
"Often with these largest stones, they sacrifice some of the shapes in order to keep the weight. "This is a perfectly symmetrical pear-shaped form and ...one of the rarest gems ever to be sold at auction," Max Fawcett, the head of Christie's jewelry department in Geneva, told Reuters.
"The Rock" - A Giant Diamond - Set Up For Auction
The auctioneer who gets to call this lot says he feels the pressure of this sale.
"For me is unique and irreplaceable. the Brilliance of the stone, the cut of the stone, the color of the stone, the clarity, that's a lot of money on the table so the auctioneer has to make sure the energy in the room is very positive," Rahul Kadakia, Christie's International Head of Jewellery, said.
"The Rock will join the very best of legendary gemstones which have passed through Christie's global salerooms since 1766. The market for diamonds is particularly vibrant and we are confident that this sensational gemstone will capture the attention of collectors across the globe this spring season," Kadakia added.
The interested clients got to have deep pockets to acquire the fabulous diamond. The auction house Christie's says that it could go for $30 million.
Diamond prices have been buoyed by sanctions on major producer Russia as well as the return of VIP events as pandemic restrictions unwind.
"The Rock" - A Legendary Diamond
Mined in South Africa, "The Rock" is the "largest existing D-Z color pear-shaped diamond ever graded" by the Gemological Institute of America, "G color, VS1 clarity", Christie's said in a statement. "The Rock" was worn by its former owner as a Cartier necklace.
At the end of March, ahead of the auction to be held by Christie's, "The Rock" went on display in Dubai. From Dubai, the giant stone traveled to Taipei, New York, and Geneva, where it will be auctioned on May 11.
The previous auction record for the largest colorless diamond was a 163.41-carat sparkler which sold in November 2017 for $33.7 million.
Christie's is also selling a 205.07-carat yellow, cushion-shaped stoned named "The Red Cross Diamond" since an unspecified portion of the auction proceeds will go to the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The gem, which has a Maltese cross faceted at its base, was first sold by Christie's in 1918 at a London auction where residents sold precious household items to help the war effort. That time, the proceeds helped the British Red Cross Society.
This time, a portion of the proceeds from the sale would go to bringing clean water to people affected by conflict.
"For me is unique and irreplaceable. the Brilliance of the stone, the cut of the stone, the color of the stone, the clarity, that's a lot of money on the table so the auctioneer has to make sure the energy in the room is very positive," Rahul Kadakia, Christie's International Head of Jewellery, said.
"The Rock will join the very best of legendary gemstones which have passed through Christie's global salerooms since 1766. The market for diamonds is particularly vibrant and we are confident that this sensational gemstone will capture the attention of collectors across the globe this spring season," Kadakia added.
The interested clients got to have deep pockets to acquire the fabulous diamond. The auction house Christie's says that it could go for $30 million.
Diamond prices have been buoyed by sanctions on major producer Russia as well as the return of VIP events as pandemic restrictions unwind.
"The Rock" - A Legendary Diamond
Mined in South Africa, "The Rock" is the "largest existing D-Z color pear-shaped diamond ever graded" by the Gemological Institute of America, "G color, VS1 clarity", Christie's said in a statement. "The Rock" was worn by its former owner as a Cartier necklace.
At the end of March, ahead of the auction to be held by Christie's, "The Rock" went on display in Dubai. From Dubai, the giant stone traveled to Taipei, New York, and Geneva, where it will be auctioned on May 11.
The previous auction record for the largest colorless diamond was a 163.41-carat sparkler which sold in November 2017 for $33.7 million.
Christie's is also selling a 205.07-carat yellow, cushion-shaped stoned named "The Red Cross Diamond" since an unspecified portion of the auction proceeds will go to the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The gem, which has a Maltese cross faceted at its base, was first sold by Christie's in 1918 at a London auction where residents sold precious household items to help the war effort. That time, the proceeds helped the British Red Cross Society.
This time, a portion of the proceeds from the sale would go to bringing clean water to people affected by conflict.
