Flawless largest purple-pink diamond expected to fetch over $25 mn at Hong Kong auction
The diamond will be the star highlight at HK Magnificent Jewels Live Auction on May 23.
By PTI |
Agencies
NEW DELHI: A 15.81 carat Sakura diamond, the largest of its kind to ever appear for sale, will go under the hammer at Christie's upcoming Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels Live Auction on May 23, the auction house announced on Tuesday. Estimated at $25 million to $38 million, the "fancy vivid purple pink internally flawless" diamond will be the star highlight of the sale.
It is the diamond's exceptional rarity, extraordinary optical transparency, brilliant colour, and enormous size that make it an immensely important, and eternal masterpiece of nature.
"As fewer than 10 per cent of pink diamonds weigh more than one-fifth of a carat, this fancy vivid purple-pink diamond is of an unprecedented size of 15.81 carats, which is the largest of its kind (Fancy Vivid Purple-Pink) to be offered at any auction," a Christie's statement noted.
It added that the lot fell in the exclusive group of the four per cent of pink diamonds that possess a colour deep enough to qualify as "fancy vivid".
"This magnificent gem is graded 'fancy vivid' for its perfect display of strong saturation and remarkable pink hue with a secondary colour of purple, resembling the fascinating colour of cherry blossoms - appropriately coinciding with spring," the auction house said.
"This season we are very honoured to continue this fine tradition by presenting 'The Sakura Diamond' in Hong Kong.
"This exceptionally rare and magnificent wonder of nature represents a unique expression of identity and mesmerising beauty through its enthralling purple pink hue, that will undoubtedly capture the hearts of discerning connoisseurs and collectors worldwide," said Vickie Sek, Chairman, Department of Jewellery, Christie's Asia Pacific.
In 2016, Sotheby's had a manuscript by Ludwig van Beethoven up for auction. The single-page manuscript was described as the "Autograph manuscript of the 'Allegretto' in B minor for string quartet (WoO 210), composed for an English visitor to Vienna in 1817". It has the words "composed and written by Beethoven himself November 29, 1817 at Vienna" inscribed on it. The manuscript was expected to fetch about 200,000 pounds. The auction house made a statement that there were no takers because of a Beethoven scholar's claim that the manuscript was not authentic.
Image: Sotheby's
It is the diamond's exceptional rarity, extraordinary optical transparency, brilliant colour, and enormous size that make it an immensely important, and eternal masterpiece of nature.
"As fewer than 10 per cent of pink diamonds weigh more than one-fifth of a carat, this fancy vivid purple-pink diamond is of an unprecedented size of 15.81 carats, which is the largest of its kind (Fancy Vivid Purple-Pink) to be offered at any auction," a Christie's statement noted.
It added that the lot fell in the exclusive group of the four per cent of pink diamonds that possess a colour deep enough to qualify as "fancy vivid".
"This magnificent gem is graded 'fancy vivid' for its perfect display of strong saturation and remarkable pink hue with a secondary colour of purple, resembling the fascinating colour of cherry blossoms - appropriately coinciding with spring," the auction house said.
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Christie's has previously offered on auction several of the largest and the rarest pink diamonds, including the Winston Pink Legacy sold in Geneva in 2018 that still holds the auction record per carat for any pink diamond. "This season we are very honoured to continue this fine tradition by presenting 'The Sakura Diamond' in Hong Kong.
"This exceptionally rare and magnificent wonder of nature represents a unique expression of identity and mesmerising beauty through its enthralling purple pink hue, that will undoubtedly capture the hearts of discerning connoisseurs and collectors worldwide," said Vickie Sek, Chairman, Department of Jewellery, Christie's Asia Pacific.
Image: Sotheby's
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