Outstanding 41-ct Yellow Diamond Sells For $1m
A dazzling 41.02-carat fancy intense yellow diamond fetched a remarkable $1.02 million at a recent Sotheby’s auction in New York, showcasing jewels from a discreet collector.
This exquisite gem, boasting natural color and VS2 clarity, stood out among the highlights of the "From the Vault Exceptional Signed Jewels" event held on March 7th. Initially estimated to fetch between $800,000 and $1.2 million, its final sale price exceeded expectations.
Photo: The Yellow diamond sold at the Sotheby’s auction (Source: Sotheby's)
This exquisite gem, boasting natural color and VS2 clarity, stood out among the highlights of the "From the Vault Exceptional Signed Jewels" event held on March 7th. Initially estimated to fetch between $800,000 and $1.2 million, its final sale price exceeded expectations.
Photo: The Yellow diamond sold at the Sotheby’s auction (Source: Sotheby's)
Key details of the yellow diamond sold by Sotheby's
- Fancy Intense Yellow diamond weighing 41.02 carats
- Size 7, equipped with an internal sizing band
- Crafted in 18-karat gold and platinum
- Accompanied by GIA report no. 2213048693, dated March 8, 2022, affirming the diamond's Fancy Intense Yellow color and VS2 clarity
The auction realized a total of $8.4 million, although nearly half of the lots - approximately 50 percent - remained unsold.
Another notable sale was a Van Cleef & Arpels gold and diamond zipper necklace-bracelet combination along with a pair of ear clips from circa 1950, fetching $482,600 against an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000.
However, an Asprey fancy vivid yellow diamond and diamond necklace, accompanied by a pair of earrings with an estimated value of $2 million to $3 million, was withdrawn from the sale.
The auction boasted an impressive array of pieces, including 81 items by Van Cleef & Arpels, 43 by Cartier, and 21 each by David Webb and Bulgari. The owner, preferring anonymity, chose to remain undisclosed.
Understanding the Rarity of Yellow Diamonds
Despite not being the rarest among fancy-colored diamonds, such as red, pink, and blue, yellow diamonds remain notably scarce compared to colorless ones. Locating rare yellow diamonds, particularly those boasting intense color, proves challenging, akin to other premium commodities.
Natural diamonds, formed deep beneath the earth's surface, become accessible through volcanic eruptions over time. The compound elements responsible for the yellow coloration can be found in various locations, with higher concentrations occurring in specific areas.
For instance, the Ellendale mine in Western Australia gained renown for its abundant production of yellow diamonds due to the prevalence of these elements.
While countries like South Africa, Russia, India, and Canada also mine yellow diamonds, some face operational challenges, such as the aforementioned mine in Western Australia.
According to Astterra.com, the chances of finding a yellow diamond among all other colors are less than a thousandth of those for a white diamond. There are only 0.000 1% fancy colors in mined diamonds.
Yellow diamonds have been discovered in numerous locations worldwide, with notable occurrences in Australia, Central Africa, Angola, Borneo, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone.
Yellow diamonds have been discovered in numerous locations worldwide, with notable occurrences in Australia, Central Africa, Angola, Borneo, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone.
