A flawless blue diamond is going to auction – and it’s a VERY big deal.
Named Bleu Royal, the stone will be the leading highlight of the upcoming Magnificent Jewels auction on 7th November at Christie’s Geneva. Weighing 17.6 carats, it’s the largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue gem to ever appear for sale in auction history.
Leading diamond experts at UK retailer Steven Stone have taken a close look at the gem, revealing everything there is to know – including how much it’s likely to be worth.
About the diamond
Weighing 17.6 carats, the Blue Royal is the largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue gem to ever appear for sale in auction history.
Cut and polished into a perfectly symmetrical pear cut, the diamond is a vivid blue colour with flawless purity.
Having been part of a private collection for the past 50 years, this is the first time that the stone – which is set in a ring – will be presented for sale at auction.
Fancy Vivid Blue diamonds over 10 carats are virtually unheard of and in more than 257 years of auction history at Christie’s, only three such stones have ever appeared for sale – The Bulgari Blue, The Winston Blue and The Oppenheimer Blue.
Where does a blue diamond get its colour from?
Blue diamonds are real, natural diamonds that are found below the earth’s surface. They’re not treated or enhanced to get their colour, it’s due to the presence of boron in the diamond’s carbon structure.
Due to their mesmerising colour, blue diamonds are often confused with blue sapphires, which are the popular and well known colour of sapphire. Sapphires are a member of the corundum family.
What do blue diamonds symbolise?
While white and colorless are the most common, diamonds can come in a variety of colours and each colour is highly symbolic.
Blue diamonds represent faith and trust. They’re also linked to the zodiac sign, Libra.
The colour blue has been long associated with royalty. Marie Antoinette is rumoured to be among the list of royals who have owned a blue diamond.
What’s the most expensive blue diamond that’s been cut?
The world’s most expensive blue diamond that’s been cut is called the ‘Oppenheimer Blue’, and set a world auction record in 2016 when it sold at Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale.
At 14.62 carats, the Oppenheimer Blue is the largest Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ever to appear at auction and at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva, it set a new world record for any jewel when it sold for CHF 56,837,000 – equivalent to around £46 million ($58 million).
According to Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s International Head of Jewellery, bidding took well over 20 minutes, starting with multiple bidders, and then settling down to two collectors who were bidding competitively in varying increments to get to the final world record price.
The diamond was named in honour of its previous owner, Sir Philip Oppenheimer – a racehorse owner whose family controlled the De Beers Group – and was the latest in a long line of distinguished blue diamonds to have appeared at Christie’s. They include a blue-diamond ring owned by Marie-Antoinette in 1983, The Tereshchenko Diamond in 1984, the Begum Blue in 1995, and the Wittelsbach Diamond in 2008.
“Weighing 17.6 carats, the Bleu Royal is the largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue gem to ever appear for sale in auction history. Cut and polished into a perfectly symmetrical pear cut, the diamond is a vivid blue colour with flawless purity.
Blue diamonds are rarer and carry a higher price tag than all other fancy coloured diamonds, with the exception of red diamonds. Thus, they’re highly sought after by collectors, enthusiasts, jewellers and investors from all over the world. The world’s most expensive blue diamond is called the ‘Oppenheimer Blue’ and set a world auction record in 2016, when it sold for more than $57.5 million at Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale.
It’s incredibly difficult to value such a rare piece, but I’d estimate the Bleu Royal to be worth approximately $25 million.”
zack stone, leading diamond expert, steven stone
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