23-Carat ‘Golconda Blue’ Heads to Auction
The historic fancy vivid blue diamond set to headline Christie’s Geneva sale next month could sell for up to $50 million.

“The Golconda Blue” is the largest fancy vivid blue diamond to ever be offered at auction, Christie’s said.
It is estimated to fetch $35 million to $50 million.
The diamond, set in a ring designed by JAR, will headline the Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale, set to take place May 14 at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva.

The legacy of Golconda diamonds dates back centuries, with the first reference found in a 4th-century Sanskrit manuscript. They were the first diamonds in the world to be discovered, said Christie’s, mined in the historic region of Golconda in southern India, near present-day Hyderabad.
In 327 BC, Alexander the Great brought diamonds from India to Europe, said Christie’s, and by 1292 AD, Marco Polo had written about their beauty while documenting his travels.
The Golconda Blue boasts a provenance rooted in Indian royalty.
Yeshwant Rao Holkar II, the Maharaja of Indore and a member of the Holkar dynasty, was, with his wife Sanyogitabai Devi, known for his modernist tastes and lifestyle of elegance and sophistication in the 1920s and 1930s.
The British-educated ruler was a Knight of the Order of the Indian Empire. He traveled often and developed an affinity for Western art, design, and jewelry.
In 1913, the Maharaja’s father, Tukoji Rao Holkar III, acquired the Indore Pear diamonds from Chaumet—a famed pair of pear-shaped diamonds weighing, at that time, 46.70 and 46.95 carats.
During another visit to the jeweler in 1923, he commissioned a bracelet set with his own 23-carat pear-shaped Golconda blue diamond.
In 1933, the Mahajara appointed Mauboussin, a French jewelry firm known for its avant-garde designs, as his official jeweler.
Mauboussin reimagined much of the Maharaja's collection, including the Golconda Blue and the Indore Pears, which the jeweler set together into a necklace that was worn by his wife, the Maharani of Indore, memorialized in a portrait by French painter Bernard Boutet de Monvel.

Yeshwant Rao Holkar II also collaborated with Harry Winston, who bought the Indore Pears from him in 1946.
In 1947, Winston purchased the Golconda Blue diamond and set it in a brooch with a matching 23-carat white diamond, which he sold to the Maharaja of Baroda.
The brooch was subsequently reacquired by Winston and resold as a newly designed jewel to its current owner, Christie’s said.
"Exceptional noble gems of this caliber come to market once in a lifetime. Over the course of its 259-year history, Christie's has had the honor of offering some of the world's most important Golconda diamonds, including the Archduke Joseph, the Princie, and the Wittelsbach,” Rahul Kadakia, Christie's International Head of Jewelry said.
“With its royal heritage, extraordinary color, and exceptional size, The Golconda Blue is truly one of the rarest blue diamonds in the world."
Another rare fancy vivid blue diamond, the 10.03-carat “Mediterranean Blue” will also go up for auction next month, estimated to fetch $20 million at Sotheby’s High Jewelry sale in Geneva.
The Latest

The two organizations have signed an affiliation agreement that’s expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.

Get a taste of the delicious candy-like gemstones in this Amanda’s Style File.

JSA’s Scott Guginsky provided a list of nine security measures jewelers should observe while locking up for the long weekend.

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.

From 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.


The lab has adjusted the scale it uses for nacre grading.

Sponsored by GCAL by Sarine

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

David Walton will serve three years’ probation after an incident in a hotel bar led to the death of West Virginia jeweler David Ettinger.

The retailer also provided an update on how the tariffs situation in the U.S. is affecting its business.

The family-owned jeweler in Great Falls, Virginia, will be celebrating its golden jubilee with a year’s worth of events.

The nonprofit elected five judges who will decide the winners of its design competition.

This year’s edition includes articles on the favorite tools of notable designers, evaluating when to outsource production, and more.

The jeweler’s high jewelry collection features extraordinary gemstones, like a 241.06-carat emerald and the world’s fourth-largest spinel.

In a special column for the State of the Majors, Edahn Golan breaks down what the top-performing fine jewelry sellers are doing right.

The bolo tie necklace is inspired by “Queen Bey” and set with a nearly 15-carat black diamond.

The nonprofit focused on mining communities in East Africa has added three new members to its advisory council.

Current Diamond Council of America President and CEO Terry Chandler is set to retire in January 2026.

The company's Series A shares will continue to trade following a reverse stock split while its Series B shares will be delisted.

Communicating clearly with your staff is key to navigating turbulent times, writes columnist Peter Smith.

The “Inner Journey” collection debuted as the brand celebrated its 25th anniversary, with designs inspired by Morais’ journey.

Tanishq is expanding its presence in the United States with a new store in Santa Clara, California, which is its largest in the country.

Sales for Richemont’s four jewelry brands increased 8 percent, while watch sales picked up toward the end of the year.

Two scholarships are available, one for new and non-members and another for NAJA certified members.

The retailer’s new flagship is set to open in October at the Tuscan Village development in Salem, New Hampshire.

Sapphires, emeralds, and rubies are finding their place in a U.S. market captivated by the gemstones once referred to as “semi-precious.”

Plus, parent company Saks Global announces plans to cut ties with up to 600 vendors.