AuctionsSep 30, 2022
Red Diamond Earns $1.8M at AuctionAuctionsOct 07, 2022
‘Williamson Pink Star’ Diamond Sets Auction Record at $57.7M
Purchased by a collector in Florida, the 11.15-carat fancy vivid pink is the second most valuable jewel or gemstone ever sold at auction.
The 11.15-carat “Williamson Pink Star” is current set in a ring with trapeze-cut diamonds and brilliant-cut pink melee. The diamond sold for $57.7 million Friday at Sotheby’s Hong Kong. (Image courtesy of Sotheby’s)
Hong Kong—The “Williamson Pink Star,” an 11.15-carat fancy vivid pink diamond, sold for more than $57 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Friday, exceeding expectations and shattering an auction record.
A private client from Boca Raton, Florida, bought the 11.15-carat internally flawless cushion-cut diamond, paying 453.2 million Hong Kong dollars ($57.7 million), well above its $21 million pre-sale estimate.
Mined at the Williamson mine in Tanzania and cut by Diacore, the Williamson Pink Star is the second largest IF fancy vivid pink diamond ever to appear at auction.
The largest is the 59.6-carat “CTF Pink Star.” Chow Tai Fook paid $71.2 million for the diamond in 2017, and it remains the most expensive gem or jewel ever sold at auction.
The Williamson Pink Star is now No. 2.
The diamond, which Sotheby’s Wenhao Yu described in an interview with National Jeweler as “a true piece of art from Mother Nature,” can also lay claim to another record.
With a per-carat sale price of roughly $5.2 million, it now holds the price-per-carat record for any diamond or gemstone sold at auction, effectively doubling the previous record of $2.7 million per carat set by the 18.96-carat “Winston Pink Legacy” at Christie’s in 2018.
The 32.32-carat piece of rough that Diacore cut to become the “Williamson Pink Star,” now known as “The Rosenberg Williamson Pink Star.” Diacore bough the rough from mining company Petra in December 2021. (Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s)
Diacore crafted the diamond into a cushion-shaped fancy vivid pink stone weighing 11.15 carats. (Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s)
“One of the purest, pinkest of diamonds, The Rosenberg Williamson Pink Star now takes its place in the pantheon of world record-breaking gemstones of the rarest kind, as the second highest price achieved for any jewel or gemstone sold at auction,” Yu said in a statement from Sotheby’s following the sale.
“The result today not only attests to the resilient demand for top quality diamonds in Asia, but a heightened awareness of the great scarcity of pink diamonds driven by an ever-limited supply.”
Sotheby’s auction of the Williamson Pink Star will be followed closely by the sale of another pink diamond with record-setting potential.
On Nov. 8 in Geneva, Christie’s is set to sell the 18.18-carat pear-shaped fancy vivid diamond dubbed “The Fortune Pink.” Christie’s said it is the largest pear-shaped fancy vivid pink ever offered at auction.
Pre-sale estimates have the stone selling for $25 million-$35 million.
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Oct. 12, 2022, to remove information about the stone being renamed, as Sotheby’s originally reported. The diamond has retained the name of the “Williamson Pink Star.”
More on Auctions
The Latest
CrimeJun 18, 2025
7 Men Indicted in $100M Brinks Jewelry HeistThe heist happened in Lebec, California, in 2022 when a Brinks truck was transporting goods from one show in California to another.
EditorsJun 18, 2025
Q&A: Caryl Capeci Dives Into Cruise Jewelry ShoppingThe Starboard Cruises SVP discusses who is shopping for jewelry on ships, how much they’re spending, and why brands should get on board.
CollectionsJun 18, 2025
Kirk Kara Celebrates 135 Years With New JewelsTo mark the milestone, the brand is introducing new non-bridal fine jewelry designs for the first time in two decades.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
SourcingJun 18, 2025
Gemfields Sells 36-Carat Rough RubyThe gemstone is the third most valuable ruby to come out of the Montepuez mine, Gemfields said.
Weekly QuizJun 12, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologyJun 18, 2025
Alex Brown Named President of Smithee GroupFounder and longtime CEO Ben Smithee will stay with the agency, transitioning into the role of founding partner and strategic advisor.
EditorsJun 17, 2025
The Best New Jewelry from Couture 2025, Part 1Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 of her favorite pieces from the jewelry collections that debuted at Couture.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.
ColumnistsJun 17, 2025
Peter Smith: Is Your Comp Plan a Hiring Hindrance?If you want to attract good salespeople and generate a stream of “sleeping money” for your jewelry store, then you are going to have to pay.
AuctionsJun 17, 2025
Colored Gemstones, Signed Jewels Shine in Sotheby’s High Jewelry SaleThe top lot was a colorless Graff diamond, followed by a Burmese ruby necklace by Marcus & Co.
MajorsJun 17, 2025
Amanda Gizzi Gets a Promotion at JAGizzi, who has been in the industry since 2001, is now Jewelers of America’s senior vice president of corporate affairs.
MajorsJun 17, 2025
Kering Names Automotive Exec as Its New CEOLuca de Meo, a 30-year veteran of the auto industry, will succeed longtime CEO François-Henri Pinault.
EditorsJun 16, 2025
Q&A: Bogolo Joy Kenewendo on Mining, Tariffs, and the Energy of Las VegasFollowing visits to Vegas and New York, Botswana’s minerals minister sat down with Michelle Graff to discuss the state of the diamond market.
IndependentsJun 16, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Launches Commitment Campaign Celebrating LGBTQ+ CouplesThe “Your Love Has the Perfect Ring” campaign showcases the strength of love and need for inclusivity and representation, the jeweler said.
MajorsJun 16, 2025
Ivette Nersesyan-Stephanopoulos Joins Tiffany & Co.The former De Beers executive is the jewelry house’s new director of high jewelry for the Americas.
MajorsJun 16, 2025
Catbird Names WNBA Star Nyara Sabally as Its New Brand AmbassadorThe New York Liberty forward is the first athlete to represent the Brooklyn-based jewelry brand.
CollectionsJun 13, 2025
Piece of the Week: Robinson Pelham’s Pear EarringsTake a bite out of the 14-karat yellow gold “Fruits of Love Pear” earrings featuring peridots, diamond stems, and tsavorite leaves.
Events & AwardsJun 13, 2025
AGA to Host ‘Diamonds From Mine to Market’ Education ConferenceThe one-day virtual event will feature speakers from De Beers, GIA, and Gemworld International.
EditorsJun 12, 2025
15 Questions With Jewelry Photographer Ella SophieThe California-based creative talks jewelry photography in the modern era and tackles FAQs about working with a pro for the first time.
AuctionsJun 12, 2025
Vintage Patek Philippe From the ‘50s Sells for $4M at Sotheby’s Al Capone’s pocket watch also found a buyer, though it went for less than half of what it did at auction four years ago.
Events & AwardsJun 12, 2025
Gabriel Love Foundation Introduces Scholarship Honoring Elias GabrielThe foundation has also expanded its “Stronger Together” initiative with Jewelers for Children.
AuctionsJun 12, 2025
Former De Beers Exec Celine Assimon Joins BonhamsAssimon is the auction house’s new chief commercial officer.
EditorsJun 11, 2025
Q&A: Al Cook on Differentiating Natural Diamonds, Traceability, and TariffsThe De Beers Group CEO discusses the company’s new “beacon” program, the likelihood diamonds will be exempt from tariffs, and “Origin.”
MajorsJun 11, 2025
Pandora Bets on Las Vegas for First North American FlagshipThe Danish jewelry giant hosted its grand opening last weekend, complete with a Pandora pink roulette wheel.
GradingJun 11, 2025
Tiffany Stevens Exits IGI, Lab Appoints New Board LeaderIndustry veteran Anoop Mehta is the new chairman and independent director of the IGI board.
Events & AwardsJun 11, 2025
Kering Announces Winners of Sustainability-Focused AwardThe winners of the inaugural “Kering Generation Award x Jewelry” are student Lee Min Seo and China-based startup Ianyan.
SourcingJun 10, 2025
De Beers Turns to Brown, Yellow Diamonds for New ‘Beacon’“Ombré Desert Diamonds” will emphasize cream-, champagne-, and brown-colored diamonds, shades that set natural stones apart from lab grown.
