Image credit: Christie's
The Rock, a 228-carat pear-shaped white diamond recovered in South Africa about 20 years ago and tipped to fetch between CHF 19,000,000 – CHF 30,000,000, was sold yesterday for mere CHF 21,681,000 ($21.9 million) at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva.
This biggest pear-shaped white diamond ever to be sold at auction weighs 228.31 carats, has G colour, VS1 clarity, excellent polish and symmetry and is accompanied by a letter from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) stating that this gem is the 'largest existing D-to-Z colour range pear-shaped diamond' graded by their laboratory.
According to the media, bidding for this golf-ball-sized diamond while quickly rising to CHF18 million then stalled making the auctioneer accept smaller increments amid sinking interest. Nevertheless, this outstanding diamond remains among the top most expensive gems ever sold at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels.
