Sotheby’s to auction rare blue diamond in Hong Kong
Hong Kong, August 21, 2013 – Sotheby’s Hong Kong presents The Premier Blue, a 7.59-carat round brilliant-cut internally flawless (IF) fancy vivid blue diamond (estimate upon request) – the largest round fancy vivid blue diamond ever graded by GIA (Gemological Institute of America) – as part of its Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite auction scheduled to take place on 7 October at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The round brilliant cut is rarely used in coloured diamonds due to the high wastage involved in the cutting process, although it is widely applied to white diamonds to maximise their brilliance.
No significant round fancy vivid blue diamond has ever appeared at auction worldwide thus making the The Premier Blue a rare and exceptional gem.
The Premier Blue, of substantial size, round brilliant cut, fancy vivid blue colour grading and internally flawless clarity, embodies the best and rarest attributes of a blue diamond.
The Premier Blue will be previewed around Asia as well as in Geneva, London, New York and Doha before the auction.
QUEK Chin Yeow, Deputy Chairman, Asia, and Chairman International Jewellery, Asia, said, “Sotheby’s has been entrusted with many important blue diamonds and holds the current per-carat price record for fancy vivid blue diamond at auction (with the sale of a 6.01-carat fancy vivid blue diamond which achieved US$1,686,505 per carat in Hong Kong in October 2011.)
“This autumn we are thrilled to offer The Premier Blue, an unusually beautiful and rare treasure of round brilliant cut as well as internally flawless clarity. No round fancy vivid blue diamond of significance has ever appeared at auction. The Premier Blue, weighing 7.59 carats, is the world’s largest round fancy vivid blue diamond to appear at auction as well as the largest one graded by GIA.“