“The Rock”, a 228.31-carat white diamond, the largest ever sold at auction, was sold for 18.6 million francs on Wednesday in Geneva. This result is far from a record in its category.
Auctioneer Rahul Kadakia, international director of the jewelry department of Christie’s, lowered his hammer after only a few minutes of bidding, in a packed room of a palace in the city of Calvin.
The hammer price does not include the buyer’s premium (commission) which Christie’s was yet to disclose later. “The Rock” was estimated between 19 and 30 million francs.
An “exceptional” stone
With its 228.31 carats, the precious stone, whose seller is from North America but who remains anonymous, had everything to seduce gemstone enthusiasts and investors.
“It is a truly exceptional pear-shaped diamond” and “it is perfectly symmetrical”, explained to AFP Max Fawcett, head of the jewelry department at Christie’s in Geneva, a few days before the sale. According to the expert, there is only a “handful” of diamonds of this ilk.
The latest record for a similar white diamond (163.41 carats) brought the stone to $33.7 million (price including buyer’s premium) – or $206,236 per carat, at a sale in November 2017 in Geneva. According to Christies, this was a record for all auction houses combined.