AuctionsSep 27, 2023
Antique Jewels Shine at Bonhams LondonAuctionsOct 06, 2023
‘Infinite Blue’ Diamond Falls Short at Auction
The fancy vivid blue diamond was estimated to sell for as much as $37 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
The “Infinite Blue” failed to meet even its lowest auction estimate at Sotheby’s Hong Kong this week.
Hong Kong—The “Infinite Blue” diamond has sold, and at a relative bargain.
The 11.28-carat fancy vivid blue diamond was estimated to sell for between $26 million and $37 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong on Thursday.
The diamond fell just short of that range when a buyer paid $25.3 million for the stone at a single-lot sale.
“The Infinite Blue’s beautiful blue hue, elegant cut, and unique physical properties make it one of the most irresistible diamonds to appear on the market,” said Chairman of Jewelry and Watches at Sotheby’s Asia Wenhao Yu.
“Its price not only attests to the resilient demand for top-quality colored diamonds among global collectors but reinforces Sotheby’s superb track record in Asia of selling the world’s gemstones of the rarest kind—with the Infinite Blue now the third most valuable blue diamond ever sold at auction in Asia.”
The 11.28-carat “Infinite Blue” was specifically cut to include the number “8” in its final carat weight, which is an auspicious number in Asia. It is a cut-cornered rectangular mixed-cut diamond.
The most expensive blue diamond ever sold at auction in Asia was the “De Beers Cullinan Blue Diamond,” or “De Beers Blue” for short.
The 15.10-carat step-cut fancy vivid blue diamond sold for $57.5 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong last year and is one of the most expensive jewels ever sold at auction.
Like the De Beers Blue, the Infinite Blue was from Petra Diamonds’ Cullinan mine in South Africa.
Blue diamonds weighing more than 10 carats from the mine are considered extremely rare.
The second most expensive blue diamond sold at auction in Asia was the “De Beers Millenium Jewel 4,” one of a dozen diamonds De Beers assembled on occasion of the turn of the millennium in 2000.
The 10.10-carat oval-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond sold for $31.8 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 2016.
Another blue diamond is set to shine later this auction season, when Christie’s Geneva offers the 17.61-carat “Bleu Royal” diamond in November.
Asserting it is the largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond to ever appear at auction, Christie’s has estimated the pear-shaped stone will sell for $35 million to $50 million.
More on Auctions
The Latest
EditorsNov 22, 2024
Out & About: Inside the CD Peacock MansionStep inside the nearly 21,000-square-foot suburban Chicago jewelry store with Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff.
CollectionsNov 22, 2024
Piece of the Week: Xander Jane’s ‘Spiked’ Pearl StudsThese punk-inspired earrings from the new Canadian brand’s debut collection reveal the alter ego of the classic pearl.
SourcingNov 22, 2024
Facets of Fire Expands to Include Pear, Marquise DiamondsThe company brings its nanotechnology to two new fancy cuts for diamonds that feature its signature color and brilliance.
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
Supplier BulletinNov 21, 2024
Tasha R Releases 2025 Labbelle Lab Diamond Jewelry CatalogSponsored by Tasha R
Weekly QuizNov 21, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Harris Jewelry Ordered to Reopen Claims Portal for Refund RequestsA federal court found that the jewelry store chain violated terms of the settlement reached after it was accused of defrauding customers.
CollectionsNov 21, 2024
Channel Elphaba in Muse’s ‘Have a Heart x Cynthia Erivo’ CollectionCynthia Erivo chose Dreams of Hope, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQA+ youth, as the charity for this year’s collection.
Brought to you by
Enhance Your Expertise with IGI’s In-Person Courses in NYCThis fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Rocksbox Opens Pop-Up Store in San FranciscoThe new space was designed to evoke a warm, inviting vibe.
IndependentsNov 21, 2024
Mary Moses Kinney Is Now Part of The Edge’s Team Kinney, who spent nearly 30 years at IJO, has been hired to head Abbott Jewelry Systems’ new virtual marketplace.
CrimeNov 20, 2024
Sotheby’s to Pay $6.25M Settlement to NY State for Alleged Tax FraudThe auction house was accused of helping clients avoid paying taxes on millions of dollars’ worth of art purchased from 2010 to 2020.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
Kering Debuts New Jewelry Award With Sustainability FocusThe four finalists will present their pieces at the 2025 JCK Las Vegas show.
CollectionsNov 20, 2024
Pamela Love Channels Surrealist Artists in New CollectionThe “Camera Oscura” collection showcases earring designs celebrating female Surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Leonor Fini.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2024
Columbia Gem House Raises $10K for Reforestation EffortsThe money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
The Jewelry Symposium Opens Registration, Scholarship ApplicationsThe event centered on advancing jewelry manufacturing technology will return to Detroit in May 2025.
CrimeNov 19, 2024
Woman Killed in Armed Robbery of Sacramento Jewelry StoreLocal reports identified the woman as the wife of the jewelry store owner.
MajorsNov 19, 2024
Trove Opens First US Flagship in NYCThe Australian jewelry box brand’s new West Village store will showcase new jewelers each month through its Designer in Residence program.
CollectionsNov 19, 2024
Snoop Dogg’s New Jewelry Collection Is All About Love“Lovechild” was created in partnership with Carolyn Rafaelian’s Metal Alchemist brand.
EditorsNov 18, 2024
Q&A: Helzberg CEO Brad Hampton on the Jeweler’s RebrandHampton discussed how Helzberg is improving the customer experience and why it was inspired by the company formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts.
Policies & IssuesNov 18, 2024
Reciprocity Jewels Returns to NYC Jewelry WeekThe group will host several curated events and an exhibition of designer jewelry made with Peruvian gold traceable to the miners’ names.
CollectionsNov 18, 2024
Dolly Parton Shines in Collaboration with Kendra ScottThe collection honors the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s “Love is Like a Butterfly” song, which shares a birth year with Kendra Scott.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2024
IGI Jewelry Design Competition ReturnsThis year’s theme asks designers to take inspiration from classic fairy tales.
EditorsNov 15, 2024
Why Fine Jewelry Belongs at New York Comic ConSenior Editor Lenore Fedow makes the case for why more jewelers should be appealing to nerds at the annual event.
CollectionsNov 15, 2024
Marie Lichtenberg Battles Counterfeits with New ‘Raiz’in Scapular’ DesignsThe latest “Raiz’in” drop showcases a newly designed “Scapular” necklace and donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish France.
WatchesNov 15, 2024
Piece of the Week: Citizen’s Commemorative Pocket WatchNo. 1 out of 100, the timepiece was created to mark Citizen’s 100th anniversary and will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month.
Recorded WebinarsNov 15, 2024
Watch: 10 Tips to Keep Your Jewelry Store Secure On the latest episode of “My Next Question,” two experts share best practices for store security during the holidays and year-round.
AuctionsNov 14, 2024
18th-Century Diamond Necklace Sells for Nearly $5M Sotheby’s sold the necklace, which potentially has ties to Marie-Antoinette, for $4.8 million to a woman bidding via phone.
