AuctionsOct 07, 2022
‘Williamson Pink Star’ Diamond Sets Auction Record at $57.7M AuctionsOct 13, 2022
These 8 Blue Diamonds Worth $70M+ Will Go Up for Auction
“The De Beers Exceptional Blue Collection” will be sold across Sotheby’s jewelry auctions this year and through spring 2023.
These eight blue diamonds, weighing 32.09 carats total and valued at more than $70 million, will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s beginning next month through the winter and spring 2023.
New York—The upcoming auction season is definitely one for blue diamond lovers.
Sotheby’s has announced it will sell a group of eight fancy blue diamonds valued at more than $70 million total across its Magnificent Jewels auctions this year and into the spring.
“The De Beers Exceptional Blue Collection,” sourced and assembled by the diamond company, is appearing at auction for the first time.
The group is comprised of eight blue diamonds of various shapes and weights, ranging in size from a 1.22-carat oval brilliant-cut to an 11.29-carat step-cut diamond, for a total weight of 32.09 carats among them.
Three of the diamonds will be offered this year: the 5.53-carat stone will be a highlight of Sotheby’s Magnificent and Noble Jewels auction in Geneva on Nov. 9, while the 3.24-carat diamond and the 2.08-carat diamond will be offered in New York on Dec. 7.
The full list of the eight diamonds and their estimates are as follows.
--11.29-carat step-cut fancy vivid blue (estimated at $28 million-$50 million)
--5.53-carat cushion brilliant-cut fancy vivid blue (estimated at $11 million-15 million)
--4.13-carat step-cut fancy intense blue (estimated at $2.5 million-$3.5 million)
--3.24-carat cushion brilliant-cut internally flawless fancy vivid blue (estimated at $5 million-$8 million)
--3.10-carat cushion brilliant-cut fancy vivid blue (estimated at $4.5 million-$5 million)
--2.08-carat cushion-cut fancy intense blue (estimated at $1.2 million-$1.5 million)
--1.50-carat round brilliant-cut fancy intense blue (estimated at $750,000-$1 million)
--1.22-carat oval brilliant-cut fancy intense blue (estimated at $600,000-$800,000)
De Beers and Diacore jointly paid $40.36 million for five rough blue diamonds from the Cullinan mine weighing 85.62 carats total in November 2020.
Over almost two years, Diacore cut and polished the five rough stones to create the eight blue diamonds in the collection Sotheby’s is now presenting.
Related stories will be right here …
Sotheby’s has announced it will sell a group of eight fancy blue diamonds valued at more than $70 million total across its Magnificent Jewels auctions this year and into the spring.
“The De Beers Exceptional Blue Collection,” sourced and assembled by the diamond company, is appearing at auction for the first time.
The group is comprised of eight blue diamonds of various shapes and weights, ranging in size from a 1.22-carat oval brilliant-cut to an 11.29-carat step-cut diamond, for a total weight of 32.09 carats among them.
Three of the diamonds will be offered this year: the 5.53-carat stone will be a highlight of Sotheby’s Magnificent and Noble Jewels auction in Geneva on Nov. 9, while the 3.24-carat diamond and the 2.08-carat diamond will be offered in New York on Dec. 7.
The full list of the eight diamonds and their estimates are as follows.
--11.29-carat step-cut fancy vivid blue (estimated at $28 million-$50 million)
--5.53-carat cushion brilliant-cut fancy vivid blue (estimated at $11 million-15 million)
--4.13-carat step-cut fancy intense blue (estimated at $2.5 million-$3.5 million)
--3.24-carat cushion brilliant-cut internally flawless fancy vivid blue (estimated at $5 million-$8 million)
--3.10-carat cushion brilliant-cut fancy vivid blue (estimated at $4.5 million-$5 million)
--2.08-carat cushion-cut fancy intense blue (estimated at $1.2 million-$1.5 million)
--1.50-carat round brilliant-cut fancy intense blue (estimated at $750,000-$1 million)
--1.22-carat oval brilliant-cut fancy intense blue (estimated at $600,000-$800,000)
De Beers and Diacore jointly paid $40.36 million for five rough blue diamonds from the Cullinan mine weighing 85.62 carats total in November 2020.
Over almost two years, Diacore cut and polished the five rough stones to create the eight blue diamonds in the collection Sotheby’s is now presenting.
They will be on display in Hong Kong from Oct. 17-19, followed by Singapore from Oct. 20-21, Taipei from Oct.26-27, and Geneva from Nov. 4-8.
“I have remained in awe of ‘The De Beers Exceptional Blue Collection’ since the first moment I set eyes on it,” said Olivier Wagner, head of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels Auctions in Geneva.
“The market for colored diamonds and precious gemstones has never been stronger, so we are absolutely thrilled to be offering the first diamond of this superb collection as one of the star highlights of our Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction next month in Geneva. This important gem will, I am sure, captivate all collectors of exceptional gemstones.”
News of the diamond collection comes less than a week after the record-breaking sale of the “Williamson Pink Star” at Sotheby’s.
The 11.15-carat fancy vivid pink diamond sold for more than $57 million in Hong Kong last Friday. 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.
Sotheby’s also sold the De Beers Blue in April, a 15.10 carat step-cut fancy vivid blue diamond that went for $57.5 million.
More on Auctions
The Latest
SourcingJun 02, 2025
Gemfields’ June Auction to Include 36-Carat RubyThe large stone will be offered at its June sale along with a selection of secondary-type rubies from a new area of the Montepuez mine.
GradingJun 02, 2025
GSI Opens New Lab in Thailand Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.
TrendsJun 02, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Three Gems for June Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.
Brought to you by
The True Power Behind the Counter: Why Sales Associates Are the Heart of the Jewelry BusinessWhen investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.
SourcingJun 02, 2025
David Allouche Joins Grandview Klein DiamondsThe diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.
Weekly QuizMay 30, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
FinancialsMay 30, 2025
Movado’s Q1 Sales Slip Amid ‘Challenging’ Retail Environment The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.
Policies & IssuesMay 30, 2025
Tariffs & Designers: Navigating Pricing in an Unstable EnvironmentBetween tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.
Brought to you by
Clienteling Isn’t a Buzzword. It’s an Essential Business Model.More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.
CollectionsMay 30, 2025
Piece of the Week: Renato Cipullo’s ‘Hematite Blaze’ NecklaceDesigned by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.
Policies & IssuesMay 30, 2025
Trade Court Declares Trump’s Tariffs InvalidHowever, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.
CollectionsMay 29, 2025
Britney Spears Files Trademark for New Jewelry LineThe pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.
Supplier BulletinMay 29, 2025
Inoveo Platinum Grain, Exclusively Distributed by StullerSponsored by Stuller
SourcingMay 29, 2025
Grizzly Auctions 6,620-Carat EmeraldIt was featured in the miner’s latest sale, which brought in $24.8 million.
TechnologyMay 29, 2025
GemFind Launches AI Product Description SoftwareGemText AI uses artificial intelligence to generate tailored product titles, descriptions, and tags with jewelry-specific language.
MajorsMay 28, 2025
Graff Unveils New Las Vegas FlagshipThe 3,300-square foot location is the jeweler's largest store in North America.
CrimeMay 28, 2025
8 Convicted in Kim Kardashian Jewelry Heist TrialAging and with myriad health issues, none will serve time for their roles in robbing the billionaire celebrity at gunpoint in 2016.
CollectionsMay 28, 2025
NY Liberty’s 2024 Championship Rings Honor Historic WinThe WNBA team received rings imbued with meaning, from leaf motifs and its Liberty torch to the number of diamonds used.
MajorsMay 28, 2025
Andrew Rickard Named JBT PresidentA longtime executive at RDI Diamonds, Rickard has served on the JBT board for the past five years.
MajorsMay 27, 2025
MJSA to Become Part of Jewelers of America The two organizations have signed an affiliation agreement that’s expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
TrendsMay 27, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Candy-Colored GemstonesGet a taste of the delicious candy-like gemstones in this Amanda’s Style File.
CrimeMay 23, 2025
JSA Shares Holiday Weekend Security Tips Amid Spike in BurglariesJSA’s Scott Guginsky provided a list of nine security measures jewelers should observe while locking up for the long weekend.
CollectionsMay 23, 2025
Piece of the Week: Bliss Lau’s ‘Bright’ RingFrom Lau’s “Love of a Kind” series, the engagement ring was inspired by the moon and holds a different meaning depending on how it is worn.
GradingMay 23, 2025
GIA Updates Pearl Classification SystemThe lab has adjusted the scale it uses for nacre grading.
Supplier BulletinMay 22, 2025
How to Put Natural Diamonds Back in the SpotlightSponsored by GCAL by Sarine
CrimeMay 22, 2025
NY Jeweler Sentenced in Shoving Death of Colleague at IJO ShowDavid Walton will serve three years’ probation after an incident in a hotel bar led to the death of West Virginia jeweler David Ettinger.
FinancialsMay 22, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s Full-Year U.S. Sales Climb 14% The retailer also provided an update on how the tariffs situation in the U.S. is affecting its business.
IndependentsMay 22, 2025
Adeler Jewelers Celebrates 50 YearsThe family-owned jeweler in Great Falls, Virginia, will be celebrating its golden jubilee with a year’s worth of events.
