More than 20 percent higher than its original estimate, the incredible De Beers Blue Diamond fetched a record-breaking $57 million at Sotheby's auction today. It is the largest fancy vivid blue diamond ever sold at auction.
The De Beers Blue Diamond, a 15.10-carat gem recently cut from an exceptional rough stone discovered in April 2021, was estimated to sell for $48 million. It is the largest internally flawless step-cut vivid blue diamond graded by GIA to date.
Only five blue diamonds weighing 10 carats have ever been sold at auction, and none were as large as this one. A mere 1% of all blue diamonds submitted to the GIA received the top color grading possible, Fancy Vivid Blue.
The GIA has graded it as 'Internally Flawless,' which places it in the elite Type IIb category, which only accounts for 0.5% of all diamonds. It also has a high degree of luster and a high degree of clarity.
Even more so, the step-cut facets of this blue diamond make it even rarer. The GIA Monograph said that, “achieving a Fancy Vivid color grade in a step cut or emerald cut adds to the rarity since most other fancy shapes intensify the body color more efficiently in the face-up position than step cuts. Colored diamonds are typically cut with radiant facets, which enhance their color. With a step-cut or emerald cut, the inherent body-color has to be stronger than virtually every other fancy shape" to achieve a Fancy Vivid grade."
A trace amount of boron in the diamond crystal lattice is what gives blue diamonds their color, making them among the world's rarest colored diamonds. In addition, the majority of the world's blue diamonds come from the Cullinan mine in South Africa, which is the only known source.
Patti Wong, Chairman of Sotheby's Asia, described it as "the ultimate masterpiece" because it was created by one of the world's most skilled cutters. "Hundreds of millions of years in the making, this extraordinary blue diamond is surely one of nature’s finest creations.”
“This diamond ranks as one of the best De Beers has ever seen,”, according to Bruce Cleaver, CEO of the company. “It is extremely rare and unique, and as the “Home of Diamonds,” De Beers is pleased to join together with Sotheby’s to bring this diamond to the world.”
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