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White diamond fetches record $30.6M

The Columbian
Published: October 7, 2013, 5:00pm

HONG KONG — A white diamond the size of a small egg sold for $30.6 million at a Hong Kong auction Monday night, although a blue diamond that was the night’s other highlight with a $19 million estimate failed to sell.

Two phone bidders competed for the 118-carat white diamond from Africa in six minutes of measured bidding until one dropped out in the Sotheby’s jewelry auction, part of fall sales of art and collectibles by the firm and its rivals.

The twice-yearly ritual in the southern Chinese city draws wealthy collectors from mainland China and other Asian countries and has made the city one of the world’s busiest auction hubs.

The “flawless” white oval diamond, mined and cut two years ago, was sold for 212 million Hong Kong dollars — $27.3 million) — just under the low end of the $28 million to $35 million estimate range set by Sotheby’s. Total price including commission came to $30.6 million.

That was more than the previous record of $26.7 million for a white diamond set in May at Christie’s in Geneva.

The stone, which weighed 299 carats when it was found in the rough in 2011, is the largest and most significant such diamond graded by the Gemological Institute of America. Sotheby’s says it was discovered in southern Africa but won’t name the country because the seller wishes to remain anonymous.

The auction’s other highlight, a 7.6-carat flawless, round, vivid blue diamond, which had an estimate of $19 million, failed to reach its reserve price.

The two gems were among 330 lots of rare jewelry that fetched a total of $95 million, $15 million less than expected.

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