The final price achieved by “The Rock”, which sold for almost 17.8 million euros yesterday in Geneva, was disappointing. The largest white diamond ever auctioned by Christie’s did not exceed the expected sales record in its category, below the experts’ estimates.
This rare 228.31 carat diamond, the size of a golf ball, was sold on Wednesday 11 May for a much lower amount than the last record in its category. Indeed, although “The Rock” is the largest white diamond ever sold at auction, it did not beat the last record set by Christie’s in 2017 in Geneva for a 163.41 carat white diamond that sold for $33.7 million.
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The Rock” was estimated to fetch between $20 million and $30 million (€19 million and €28.4 million), but auctioneer Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s International Head of Jewellery, lowered his hammer after just a few minutes to CHF18.6 million (€17.8 million).
“This is a truly exceptional pear-shaped diamond” and “it is perfectly symmetrical”, commented Max Fawcett, Head of Christie’s Jewellery Department, shortly before the sale.
The stone was extracted from a South African mine in the early 2000s. The diamond was worn on a necklace from the prestigious Maison Cartier by its last owner.
Read also > CHRISTIE’S GENEVA PRESENTS THE LARGEST WHITE DIAMOND EVER AUCTIONED
Featured photos : © Christie’s
