Recent years have been good to owners of colored diamonds and it seems that in every auction held by Sotheby’s and Christie’s a record is broken.
Sometimes, the so called records belong to a niche – for example – world’s most expensive pink diamond or largest diamond to be sold at the auctions, and it seems that records are meant to add prestige or value to the sold diamonds. But sometimes, a record is broken that is impossible to open for commentary & interpretation – The World Most Expensive Diamond – the single most important record of them all – and it was just broken!
While many of the world’s most famous diamonds and most expensive diamonds have history dating back centuries and royal pedigrees, the exceptional blue moon diamond was discovered… less than two years ago.
It was during January 2014 that we ɾєρօɾτed that Petra Diamondsdiscovered a 29.6 carat ɾօυɢҺ blue diamond. It was mined in South Africa in the Cullinan mine (same mine that produced the one and only Cullinan Diamond) and it’s exceptional color did not go unnoticed even in the ɾօυɢҺ. Upon its discovery, it received a price assessment of $15M-$20M which is astounding taking into consideration that diamonds can easily lose 60% during polishing which means that even then they estimated it would be worth somewhat above $35 Million when polished.
But assessments and theories are one thing and reality is another. In this case, reality is even better and on February 2014 Petra diamonds sold the mesmerizing blue diamond to Cora International for…. $25.6 Million dollars in the ɾօυɢҺ. An amount that only a handful of diamonds have achieved as polished.
6 months have passed and the diamond was far from being forgotten. After all,natural blue diamondssuch as this don’t come too often. And finally, during August 2014 Cora ɾєⱱєɑłєԀ its magnificent gem – anInternally Flawless 12.03 carat Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond– a truly perfect blue diamond – a combination of the highestcolor gradingwith the highest clarity. A diamond that is so rare that naming it after one of nature’s phenomenon is a perfect fit – andThe Blue Moon Diamondwas born.
Going Once, Twice, SOLD for $48.5 Million Dollars – New world record
Another year has passed and during October Sotheby’s announced that the one and only Blue Moon Diamond will be auctioned in their November Magnificent Jewels auction.
Diamonds such as this are priceless and since only a handful of people can afford to purchase them, the actual price is determined during the auction. As such, the price estimations for the Blue Moon varied between 34.2 Million Francs to 53.7 Million – and they were not far off. The Blue Moon Diamond eventually sold just above the average between the low and high estimations fetching Sotheby’s (and Cora International) the astounding amount of $48.4 Million Dollars – that’s more than $4 Million Dollars per carat!!!
