Video a very rare diamond, sold with over $ 20 million. “It is at the top of the rarity pyramid”
Photo diamonds: Ingram Publishing, Ingram Publishing / Alamy / Profimedia
A 10.03 carat blue diamond was sold at the auction in Geneva for $ 21.5 million (19.1 million euros), according to the Sotheby's auction house, AFP, taken over by AGERPRES, on Wednesday.
The diamond called “Mediterranean Blue”, whose value was estimated at $ 20 million, “generated a huge interest” during sale, the auction house announced in a statement published on Tuesday evening.
However, Tobias Kormind, the director of the 77 Diamonds company, the largest online jewelry store in Europe, said in a statement that the sale was “less impressive” than expected.
The diamond has exceeded the estimation of $ 20 million, which suggests a significant interest. “But the general uncertainty, including commercial tensions between the United States and China, could have reduced the confidence of the bidders,” he noted.
The battle between two bidders started at 9 million Swiss francs and lasted almost three minutes. The precious stone was purchased by a private American collector, the auction house announced, without revealing its identity.
“This is undoubtedly the star of the season and is one of the most perfect blue diamonds we have sold,” said Quig Bruning, the head of the Sotheby's jewelry department for North America, Europe and the Middle East after auction.
The diamond was recently discovered in the legendary Cullinan Mine in South Africa. It was then presented in early April at Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. “Blue diamonds are at the top of the rarity pyramid,” said Quig Bruning.
According to Sotheby's, “finding a blue diamond is an incredibly rare event.” The blue color of the diamonds is given by the presence of boron impurities in the crystalline structure.
