The largest white diamond ever auctioned will be offered next Wednesday in Geneva. The price of the gemstone, whose owner is from North America but remains anonymous, might reach record highs.
At 228.31 carats ‘The Rock’ is the largest white diamond ever offered at auction. This is a truly exceptional pear-shaped cut diamond,” said Max Fawcett, Head of Jewelery at Christie’s in Geneva.
‘It is perfectly symmetrical. It is estimated between 20 and 30 million dollars, and I expect an explosion in bidding,’ said Mr. Fawcett. According to the expert, there is only a ‘handful’ of diamonds of this ilk.
‘The Rock’, whose height exceeds that of a golf ball, was extracted from a mine in South Africa in the early 2000s. It was then sold by Christie’s in a voluntary sale by private collector.
For the ICRC
Bidders will also be able to bid for ‘The Red Cross Diamond’, a 205.07-carat cushion-shaped canary yellow diamond on Wednesday. ‘It is estimated between 7 and 10 million francs. I expect him to achieve fantastic results when selling. Much of the proceeds from its sale will be donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross,’ Fawcett said.
The original gem was mined in 1901 at a De Beers company’s South African mine and is said to have weighed around 375 carats, according to Christie’s. As well as ranking among the largest diamonds in the world, a striking feature of the stone is its pavilion, which is naturally faceted in the shape of a Maltese cross.
The seller wished to remain anonymous but released this statement: ‘For nearly half a century our family has had the privilege of keeping the Red Cross Diamond. (…) At this auspicious moment in history, we honor the call that others have made before us.’
/ATS
