The “Perfect Diamond” Goes Up For Auction

A stunning 100-carat emerald-cut white diamond headlines Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction coming up this April.   The stone, recovered a year ago in the mines of South Africa, weighed in at 200 carats in its rough form.

Diamond giant DeBeers spent a year studying, cutting and polishing the rare stone before a world tour that includes Hong Kong, Dubai and London before ending in New York City for the big sale.

Gary Schuler, the head of Sotheby’s jewelry department in New York, said the diamond “is the definition of perfection. The color is whiter than white, it is free of any internal imperfections.”

The cut of the diamond is what has most people talking.   According to Mr. Schuler, “It is the first true emerald-cut diamond over 100 carats to be offered at auction – the most classic of cuts, quietly elegant and very contemporary.”

The diamond is expected to sell for between $19 and $25 million.   Those prices break down to a per-carat price of between $189,000 and $249,000.   Two similar quality white diamonds of that size sold at auction in 2013 for $263,000 per carat and $259,000 per carat respectively.

 

The First Big Jewelry Auction of 2015

The winter doldrums are still surrounding us, but the bright lights of color diamonds is beginning with the Sotheby’s Important Jewels Auction on Thursday, February 5 in New York City.

We take a look at the Top 5 color diamond pieces set to go under the hammer in the first large-scale jewelry auction of 2015.

1.  Platinum, Fancy Orangy Pink Diamond and Diamond Pendant Necklace

The centrepiece features a hefty 5.07-carat pear shaped Fancy Orangy-Pink diamond.   The stone is set on a platinum necklace set with round diamonds.  The necklace is expected to sell for as much as $500,000 (CAD).

2.  Platinum, 18K Gold, Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond and Diamond Ring

Expected to sell for between $231,000 and 347,000, the main stone of this 18k gold diamond ring is a modified brilliant cut Fancy Intense Yellow diamond weighing in at 10.02 carats.   The stone is flanked by two trapeze-cut diamonds weighing 2.00 carats.

3.  18 Karat Gold and Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond Ring

A pear-shaped Fancy Intense Yellow diamond weighing 6.35 carats and flanked by 1.50 carats of pear-shaped white diamonds.  Industry experts expect the piece to sell for between $173,000 and $289,000.

4.  Pair of 18 Karat Gold and Colored Diamond Earstuds

The only earrings on the list, these feature cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut yellow diamonds weighing 5.10 and 5.00 carats.  The pieces are expected to sell for between $173,000 and $231,000.

5.  Platinum, 18 Karat Gold, Fancy Light Yellow Diamond and Diamond Pendant-Necklace

A heart-shaped 10.76-carat Fancy Light Yellow Diamond is the focal point of the piece with a platinum and 18-karat gold chain set with round diamonds.   The estimates have the necklace selling for between $144,000 and $173,000.