The Bleu Royal, an internally flawless fancy vivid blue pear brilliant-cut diamond of 17.61 carats and 18-carat gold ring, was estimated to sell for between $35 million and $50 million.
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction, held at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva, featured a curated selection of historic and modern jewellery from all periods, as well as famous jewellery houses such as Harry Winston, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and many more.
According to the auction house, prices for top-quality coloured diamonds have risen exponentially in recent years, driven by collector demand and an increasingly limited supply. In more than 250 years of auction history at Christie’s, only three fancy vivid blue diamonds over 10 carats were sold between 2010 and 2016.
