Wednesday, May 18, 2016

[Geology2] Rare $31.6 million 'Unique Pink' diamond sets new auction record



Rare $31.6 million 'Unique Pink' diamond sets new auction record

By Georgia McCafferty, for CNN

Updated 2:13 AM ET, Wed May 18, 2016

'The Unique Pink' is the largest Fancy Vivid pink pear-shaped diamond to ever be offered at auction.
14 photos: A look at some of the world's most famous diamonds
'The Unique Pink' is the largest Fancy Vivid pink pear-shaped diamond to ever be offered at auction.

(CNN)An extremely rare 15.38 carat pear-shaped pink diamond -- called the 'Unique Pink' -- sold for $31.6 million at Sotheby's in Geneva on Tuesday, making it the most expensive fancy vivid pink diamond ever to sell at auction.

The spectacular diamond, set in a simple ring, sold to an Asian private buyer who bid for the rare gem over the telephone. A Sotheby's spokesperson said they were not yet able to reveal the buyer's identity.
"It is difficult to imagine a diamond that better illustrates the term vivid pink than this outstanding stone...the color is simply astonishing," David Bennett, worldwide chairman of Sotheby's International Jewellery, said in a statement announcing the sale.

Sparkling record breakers

The most expensive pink diamond ever to sell at auction remains the 24.78 carat 'Graff Pink,' which sold for $46.2 million at Sotheby's in November 2010.
However, yesterday's 'Unique Pink' sale eclipsed the previous record for a fancy vivid pink diamond, set by the 'Sweet Josephine' at a Christie's auction in November 2015.
That 16.08 carat diamond sold for $28.5 million to Hong Kong billionaire, Joseph Lau, who purchased it for his then 7-year-old daughter, Josephine.
As colorful as these diamonds may be, they pale in comparison to the diamond Lau purchased for his daughter at a Sotheby's auction the very next day.
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Why are diamonds such an emotional purchase? 02:16
That 12.03 blue sparkler, dubbed the "Blue Moon of Josephine", sold for an eye-watering $48.4 million, making it the world's most expensive diamond ever.
But that record may soon be challenged, with the 14.62 carat 'Oppenheimer Blue' -- the world's largest vivid blue diamond ever to be sold at auction -- going under the hammer at a Christie's auction in Geneva on Wednesday night.


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Posted by: Kim Noyes <kimnoyes@gmail.com>



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