Rare and magnificent diamonds under the hammer

The world’s largest blue diamond is to be auctioned in Geneva, Switzerland on May 14. The rare stone, believed to have come from South Africa, will be sold along with 250 other lots.

David Warren, the International Director at Christie’s Jewellery Department, said: “It is the largest vivid blue diamond to ever have appeared on the auction market. Over the last 30 to 35 years, only five vivid blue diamonds over 10 carats have appeared at auction. So this one weighing 13.22 carats is an exceptional stone.”

Another rare diamond is also set to go under the hammer; the largest blue-green stone ever auctioned. Prices are estimated at anything up to $10 million (7.2 million euros). In the same auction a 17th-century bead necklace is expected to fetch up to $2 million (1.44 million euros).

David Warren said: “Six months ago we sold ‘The Orange’ which is a 14 carat pear-shaped vivid orange diamond, the largest of its kind ever sold at auction. And that made a world record price of $2.4 million (1.73 million euros) per carat. An extraordinary stone. So now we have what we call ‘The Blue’, this vivid stone, and it should make a world-record price.”

The collection is currently on display at Christie’s auction house in London.