Thursday, May 29, 2008

Asia's biggest colorless diamond sold for $6.2 mln


HONG KONG - A 101.27-carat diamond the size of a squash ball and the largest colorless stone to be auctioned in Asia, has fetched $6.2 million at a Christie's sale in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
The gem, which is internally flawless but rated VVS1 (very very slightly imperfect 1st degree) for clarity was sold after patchy bidding for HK$48.5 million including the buyer's premium, a relatively low per-carat price and at the low-end of its pre-sale estimate.
The diamond is the largest colorless diamond to appear at auction in 18 years and one of only three colorless diamonds of over 100-carats ever to be auctioned, Christie's said. It was also the biggest colorless diamond ever to be sold in Asia.
The diamond is the largest colorless diamond to appear at auction in 18 years and one of only three colorless diamonds of over 100-carats ever to be auctioned, Christie's said. It was also the biggest colorless diamond ever to be sold in Asia.
While rare polished diamonds achieved all-time highs per carat at sales in Geneva late last year, a much-hyped 72.22 carat "D" flawless white diamond failed to sell at a Sotheby's Hong Kong auction in April, suggesting demand for top stones may be waning due to a weakening world economy.
The 101-carat "shield-shape" stone was cut from a 460-carat hunk of rough crystal and mounted on a tiara, rather than a necklace or pendant given its extraordinary thickness.
Naming rights for the gem will be granted to the new owner, whom Christie's would only reveal as a private buyer.

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