Christie’s hosted the Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on 9 June, and the main highlight was The Azure Blue, a 31.62-carat, internally flawless, fancy blue diamond with a pear shape and even colour.
It returned $USD8.4 million ($AUD11.9 million). In the lead-up to the auction, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) praised the stone as one of the most important fancy-blue diamonds and the largest of its kind to appear on the market, and Claibourne Poindexter of Christie’s described The Azure Blue as a masterpiece.
“Fancy blue diamonds of this calibre are extraordinarily scarce, and diamonds that combine such depth of hue with a weight of 31.62 carats are virtually never seen on the market,” he said.
The second ring featured a 5.04-carat marquise modified brilliant-cut fancy vivid blue diamond, which sold for $USD8.1 million ($AUD11.5 million).
Other highlights included a 41.29-carat Ceylon sapphire ring and a 15.40-carat Kashmir sapphire ring, which achieved $USD2.3 million ($AUD3.2 million) and $USD1.2 million ($AUD1.7 million), respectively. A circa-1900 diamond and natural saltwater pearl brooch realised $USD1.4 million ($AUD2 million).
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