Sotherby’s Record Pink Diamond Auction

November 2010 saw the sale at auction by Sotherby’s of Geneva, Switzerland, of one of the Worlds rarest pink diamond gems, a 24.78 Karat ‘Fancy Intense Pink’ example, for a record breaking $46 Million!

One of the rarest colors, the pink diamond was described by the head of Sotherby’s jewelry division David Bennett as having an ‘emerald cut with gently rounded corners- a soft sensual feel’.  It is a unusually high clarity specimen, pronounced VVS2 by Gemological Institute of America. The color is described as a pure pink with no secondary hues.

The diamond was bought by top British diamond trader Laurence Graff after fierce bidding had pushed the price of the diamond far above the estimated $23 to $24 Million. Last sold by a New York dealer and kept in a private collection ever since, the diamond realized the highest ever amount bid for a jewel at auction.

‘There’s only one or two other diamonds I have seen like this in the 35 years i’ve been doing this job’ commented Bennett after the auction.

Pink diamond stones of this size and intensity of color are extremely rare.