‘Bulgari Laguna Blu’ Diamond Makes Met Gala Appearance Ahead of Auction
Priyanka Chopra Jonas wore the 11.16-carat pear-shaped blue diamond to the event.
The Laguna Blu is an 11.16-carat fancy vivid blue diamond the Italian jewelry house selected and set into a ring in 1970 for a “discerning private collector” in Europe.
According to Sotheby’s, the stone has remained in that same private collection since, until Jonas, one of the brand’s celebrity ambassadors, wore it Monday.
For the Met Gala, the annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute that is considered the night for fashion, Bulgari reset the stone into a wreath-like diamond collar necklace.
The bay laurel wreaths Greco-Roman emperors wore served as inspiration for the design, which Chopra Jonas paired with a classic strapless black Valentino gown elevated for the occasion by a ruffled cape and white opera-length gloves.
Later this month, the pear-shaped Bulgari Laguna Blu will go up for auction at Sotheby’s “Luxury Week” in Geneva, scheduled for May 12-16.
The auction house estimates it will sell for more than $25 million, making the diamond the most valuable Bulgari gem ever offered for sale.
The blue diamond is part of a larger collection of Bulgari pieces from the same time period (early 1970s) and owned by the same European collector that are going up for auction during Luxury Week.
Other highlights of the collection include a 12.08-carat pear-shaped colorless diamond (estimate $600,000-$700,000) and an 18.78-carat step-cut colorless diamond ($900,000-$1.4 million).
“The Bulgari Laguna Blu is an extraordinary gem in every way,” Sotheby’s Geneva Head of Jewelry Olivier Wagner said. “[It] is bound to become the object of any collector’s dream and we are delighted that it will be first premiered at the always highly anticipated Met Gala’s red carpet.”
The sale of the Bulgari Laguna Blu will cap off what Sotheby’s described as a “trifecta of unique and extraordinary colored gemstones” it is putting up for auction this spring, starting with “The Eternal Pink” diamond and “Estrella de Fura” ruby at its “Magnificent Jewels” auction in New York on June 8.
The Latest
A double-digit drop in the number of in-store crimes was offset by a jump in off-premises attacks, JSA’s 2023 crime report shows.
Inspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
The selected nine organizations have outlined their plans for the funds.
The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.
The crown introduced a dozen timepieces in Geneva, including a heavy metal version of its deep-sea divers’ watch.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
Emmanuel Raheb recommends digging into demographic data, customizing your store’s communications, and retargeting ahead of May 12.
Located in the town of Queensbury, it features a dedicated bridal section and a Gabriel & Co. store-in-store.
A 203-carat diamond from the alluvial mine in Angola achieved the highest price.
Ruser was known for his figural jewelry with freshwater pearls and for his celebrity clientele.
The “Rebel Heart” campaign embodies rebellion, romance, and sensuality, the brand said.
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares the standout moments from the education sessions she attended in Austin last week.
The overhaul includes a new logo and enhanced digital marketplace.
The money will go toward supporting ongoing research and aftercare programs for childhood cancer survivors.
A new addition to the “Heirloom” collection, this one-of-a-kind piece features 32 custom-cut gemstones.
Last month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.
The move will allow the manufacturing company to offer a more “diverse and comprehensive” range of products.
From now through mid-May, GIA will be offering the reports at a 50 percent discount.
De Beers’ rough diamond sales were down 18 percent year-over-year in its latest round of sales.
Sponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show
The Patek Philippe expert will serve as personal curator for the brand-focused company.
The 553-square-foot shop is aboard the Carnival Jubilee cruise ship.
NDC filed a complaint against Skydiamond for use of phrases like “diamonds made entirely from the sky.”
John Carter received the AGS’s highest honor Tuesday afternoon at Conclave in Austin, Texas.
LVMH said the company performed well despite an uncertain geopolitical and economic environment.