Record Blue Diamond To Be Auctioned. "It's a perfect masterpiece!"
One of the most valuable blue diamonds to ever feature at an auction could sell for at least $ 48 million, according to Sotheby's.
According to CNN, the gemstone has been described by experts as "the rarest of rarities" and "a perfect masterpiece."
Dubbed "The De Beers Cullinan Blue", Cullinan being the South African mine from which it was unearthed, while De Beers is the company that owns it, this extraordinary gemstone is the largest vivid blue diamond ever to appear at auction.
The stone is also the largest internally flawless step-cut vivid blue diamond that the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has ever graded.
According to CNN, the gemstone has been described by experts as "the rarest of rarities" and "a perfect masterpiece."
Dubbed "The De Beers Cullinan Blue", Cullinan being the South African mine from which it was unearthed, while De Beers is the company that owns it, this extraordinary gemstone is the largest vivid blue diamond ever to appear at auction.
The stone is also the largest internally flawless step-cut vivid blue diamond that the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has ever graded.
The Appearance of "The De Beers Cullinan Blue" - An Event In Itself
The 15.10 carat step-cut blue diamond has been cut from an exceptional rough stone discovered in April 2021.
According to Sotheby's, blue diamonds of this importance are exceptionally rare, with only five examples over 10 carats ever having come to auction, none of which have exceeded 15 carats, making the appearance of this flawless gem a landmark event in itself.
The jewel was categorized as "fancy vivid blue" by the GIA, the highest possible color grading awarded to no more than 1% of the blue diamonds submitted to the organization.
The jewel has outstanding polish and is of Type IIb, which means it contains boron and therefore has a bluish-gray shade, according to the GIA website. Less than 0.5% of diamonds are part of such a category, the press statement said.
According to Sotheby's, blue diamonds of this importance are exceptionally rare, with only five examples over 10 carats ever having come to auction, none of which have exceeded 15 carats, making the appearance of this flawless gem a landmark event in itself.
The jewel was categorized as "fancy vivid blue" by the GIA, the highest possible color grading awarded to no more than 1% of the blue diamonds submitted to the organization.
The jewel has outstanding polish and is of Type IIb, which means it contains boron and therefore has a bluish-gray shade, according to the GIA website. Less than 0.5% of diamonds are part of such a category, the press statement said.
"The De Beers Cullinan Blue" - One Of The Most Celebrated Gems
"Blue diamonds of any kind are rare on the market, but this is the rarest of the rare; nothing of remotely similar caliber has appeared at auction in recent years," Patti Wong, chairman of Sotheby's Asia, said in the press statement.
"Hundreds of millions of years in the making, this extraordinary blue diamond is surely one of nature's finest creations. Now brought to dazzling life by the hand of one of the world's most skillful cutters, it is the ultimate masterpiece -- as rare and desirable as the very greatest works of art.
At a time of unprecedented demand for the finest, world-class, colored diamonds, we are incredibly excited to bring to the market what is sure to become one of the most celebrated gems in the world," the chairman added.
"Hundreds of millions of years in the making, this extraordinary blue diamond is surely one of nature's finest creations. Now brought to dazzling life by the hand of one of the world's most skillful cutters, it is the ultimate masterpiece -- as rare and desirable as the very greatest works of art.
At a time of unprecedented demand for the finest, world-class, colored diamonds, we are incredibly excited to bring to the market what is sure to become one of the most celebrated gems in the world," the chairman added.
Other Record-Breaking Diamonds From The Cullinan Mine
The Cullinan Mine in Soth Africa has produced an array of gemstones, including the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond, discovered in 1905 - the largest diamond ever discovered, according to the Cape Town Diamond Museum.
"Josephine's Blue Moon" is a 12.03-carat blue diamond that sold for $ 48.4 million in 2015. It still holds the auction record for the price per carat of any diamond ever sold.
"The Sakura" is a recent discovery - a 15.81-carat pink-purple diamond sold for $ 29.3 million by Christie's in May last year.
"The De Beers Cullinan Blue" is scheduled to be auctioned by Sotheby's at an independent event in Hong Kong Luxury Week in April.
"Josephine's Blue Moon" is a 12.03-carat blue diamond that sold for $ 48.4 million in 2015. It still holds the auction record for the price per carat of any diamond ever sold.
"The Sakura" is a recent discovery - a 15.81-carat pink-purple diamond sold for $ 29.3 million by Christie's in May last year.
"The De Beers Cullinan Blue" is scheduled to be auctioned by Sotheby's at an independent event in Hong Kong Luxury Week in April.
