A flawless white diamond with a high estimate of nearly $13 million will head up April’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite auction at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong.
The oval brilliant-cut, 88.22-carat, D-color, flawless, type IIa stone is one of only three oval diamonds over 50 carats offered in auction history, Sotheby’s said Tuesday. The stone — which has a presale estimate of $11.2 million to $12.7 million — is the largest to go under the hammer in more than five years.
“For those who have had the chance to see the diamond, one adjective comes back: ‘breathtaking,’” said David Bennett, worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s international jewelry division. “Barely any diamonds of this weight are known to possess the same exceptional qualities of purity and perfection as this remarkable stone, which is so full of fire and blinding brilliance.”
The diamond comes from a 242-carat rough stone recovered from De Beers’ Jwaneng mine in Botswana, and took several months to cut and polish, Sotheby’s added.
Source: Diamonds.net