Rare pink diamond sells for record-breaking £29m
Baku, November 17 (AZERTAC). One of the world`s rarest diamonds has sold for a record-breaking $46 million (£29m), the highest price ever paid for a jewel.
The 24.78-carat "fancy intense pink" diamond was sold to a well-known British dealer at an auction in Geneva.
Bidding at the Sotheby`s auction was said to be fierce, and the sale surpassed expectations.
Last sold by a New York jeweller 60 years ago, the gem has been kept in a private collection ever since.
The diamond had been expected to command at least £625,000 per carat.
The previous record for a jewel at auction was set by a blue 35.56 carat diamond which sold for £15.2m at auction in 2008.
"This is the highest price ever bid for a jewel at auction," said David Bennett, the head of Sotheby`s jewellery division, as the auction room in Geneva`s luxury Beau Rivage hotel broke into applause.
It was bought by top diamond trader Laurence Graff, who bid by telephone, Sotheby`s said.
The auction house said it sold jewels worth a total of £66m - a world record for a single sale.
Five hundred lots were on sale, including jewellery that belonged to Christina Onassis and Cristina Ford - who was married to Henry Ford II, grandson of the founder of the Ford Motor Company.
"I think this tells you a bit about the health of the market," Mr Bennett told reporters afterwards.
He said the pink stone - which is described as having an emerald cut with gently rounded corners - had a "soft sensual feel".
Pink diamonds of such a size are extremely rare.
"There`s only one or two other stones I`ve seen like this in the 35 years I`ve been doing this job," said Mr Bennett. "I just love it."
BBC Geneva correspondent Imogen Foulkes said it was a "beautiful, rosy pink with an alluring sparkle".
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