A freshly discovered exceedingly rare blue diamond will be on display at Sotheby’s Dubai gallery in the Dubai International Financial Center until Friday before being auctioned at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in April.
The De Beers Cullinan Blue, estimated to be valued more than $48 million, is one of the most precious blue diamonds ever offered at auction.
The 15.10-carat stone is also the world’s largest bright blue diamond ever sold at auction.Only five blue diamonds weighing more than ten carats have been sold at auction, and none of them weighed more than fifteen carats.
“This diamond rates as one of the best De Beers has ever seen,” said Bruce Cleaver, chief executive officer of De Beers Group, in a statement. It’s exceedingly rare and one-of-a-kind, and as the Home of Diamonds, De Beers is delighted to collaborate with Sotheby’s to bring it to the world.”
Blue diamonds are incredibly difficult to find and mine, making them one of the world’s rarest coloured diamonds. They contain all of the same intrinsic features as the precious stone, but they have a blue tinge to them.
The De Beers Cullinan Blue is certified intense blue by the Gemological Institute of America, which is the highest possible grading for a coloured diamond, and has the highest rankings in each category under which a diamond is rated.
