Events & AwardsApr 18, 2025
Daymond John to Give Keynote at JCK Las VegasThe entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.
AuctionsMar 22, 2016
Blue diamond sale sets multiple records
Now called the “Blue Moon of Josephine,” a blue diamond that sold for $48.5 million Wednesday set a record price for any jewel at auction.
Geneva--World auction records were eclipsed Wednesday when a 12.03-carat fancy vivid blue diamond sold for $48.5 million.
Sold at Sotheby’s Geneva auction, the diamond known as the “Blue Moon” set new records for price for any jewel at auction and price-per-carat for any diamond, at $4 million per carat.
Sold at Sotheby’s Geneva auction, the diamond known as the “Blue Moon” set new records for price for any jewel at auction and price-per-carat for any diamond, at $4 million per carat.
A Hong Kong billionaire bought the diamond and renamed it the “Blue Moon of Josephine,” after his 7-year-old daughter.
The diamond’s original name, the “Blue Moon,” came after the expression “Once in a blue moon,” Sotheby’s said.
The price paid for the Blue Moon diamond broke the previous record for any diamond or gemstone at auction set by the $46.2 million sale of the “Graff Pink” at Sotheby’s in November 2010. Laurence Graff bought that diamond, a 24.78-carat fancy intense pink.
The record seemingly had been broken in November 2013, when New York diamond cutter Isaac Wolf bought a 59.60-carat fancy vivid pink diamond for $83.2 million, also at Sotheby’s.
Several months later, however, it was revealed that Wolf couldn’t pay, and the auction house took back the stone.
The Blue Moon was not the only diamond to make headlines this week and, interestingly, not the only one named Josephine.
A 16.08-carat diamond sold for $28.5 million at Christie’s Geneva on Tuesday, setting a new record for a vivid pink diamond. The buyer, who also is from Asia, named it the “Sweet Josephine” after the sale.
Overall, Sotheby’s Nov. 11 auction totaled $139.1 million, with 83 percent sold by lot.
An 8.24-carat fancy vivid purple-pink diamond set into a ring was purchased by an anonymous buyer for $13.9 million, and a world auction record was set for a fancy orangey-pink diamond when a 15.20-carat diamond of that hue sold for just more than $4 million.
Another colored diamond, a 22.43-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond set into a ring, garnered $2.6 million.
A complete list of results from the sale can be found on the Sotheby’s website.
More on Auctions
The Latest
CollectionsApr 18, 2025
Piece of the Week: Dukachi’s ‘Easter Bread’ PendantThe Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.
IndependentsApr 18, 2025
Bremer Jewelry to Reveal Renovated StoreThe jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.
MajorsApr 18, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Employees Star in Mother’s Day CampaignThe “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.
Weekly QuizApr 18, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsApr 17, 2025
John Hardy, Athena Calderone Partner on Art Deco Decor-Inspired CollectionInterior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.
FinancialsApr 17, 2025
Movado Group to Increase Prices to Offset Tariffs ImpactDuring a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.
Brought to you by
The Heart of the Industry: Giving Bench Jewelers the Recognition They DeserveBench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.
Lab-GrownApr 17, 2025
NDC Launches Its Diamond Learning CenterThe free program provides educational content for jewelry salespeople and enthusiasts to learn or refresh their diamond knowledge.
Policies & IssuesApr 17, 2025
Jewelers of America Requests Tariffs Testimonials from MembersThe feedback will be used to prepare other jewelers for the challenges ahead, the organization said.
TechnologyApr 17, 2025
Technology Therapy Group Expands AI Training for Jewelry RetailersThe online sessions are designed to teach jewelers to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to grow their business.
IndependentsApr 16, 2025
Catbird Expands to ChicagoThe opening marks the jewelry retailer’s first location in the Midwest.
CollectionsApr 16, 2025
Foundrae’s First Commitment Jewelry Collection Unites Through LoveThe “United in Love” collection offers tangible mementos of hearts entwined with traditional and non-traditional commitment heirlooms.
IndependentsApr 16, 2025
Indiana Jeweler to Host Black Jewelry Designer Pop-UpRobert Goodman Jewelers will hold a “Black Jewelry Designers and Makers” event on April 27.
MajorsApr 16, 2025
WJA Announces Board Members, New Chicago Chapter PresidentThe announcements follow a tumultuous start to 2025 for WJA, which saw a wave of resignations following controversial statements about DEI.
EditorsApr 15, 2025
Tariffs: What We Know Right Now Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff answers questions about how the new taxes levied on countries like India and China will impact the industry.
EditorsApr 15, 2025
Q&A: Bogolo Joy Kenewendo on Making Deals, Marketing DiamondsKenewendo, Botswana’s minster of minerals and energy, discusses closing the deal with De Beers and the work that was missed along the way.
FinancialsApr 15, 2025
LVMH’s Q1 Sales Slip 2 PercentLVMH CFO Cécile Cabanis also discussed the effects of tariffs so far.
CrimeApr 15, 2025
Jon Hamm Plays a Jewel Thief on Apple TV+The “Mad Men” and “The Morning Show” star steals jewelry, art, and handbags from his wealthy neighbors in “Your Friends & Neighbors.”
SourcingApr 15, 2025
Diamond Club West Coast Names 2025 BoardThe organization has reelected Kalpesh Jhaveri as president.
FinancialsApr 14, 2025
Movado to Restate Years of Financials Due to ‘Misconduct’ in Dubai An investigation found that the former managing director of Movado’s Dubai branch overstated and prematurely recorded sales.
CollectionsApr 14, 2025
Sauer Embraces Emptiness Through ‘Ma’ CollectionThe collection pays tribute to the Japanese philosophy of Ma, studying balance, stillness, and the interplay between presence and absence.
IndependentsApr 14, 2025
Illinois Jeweler Closing After 45 YearsMari Lou’s Fine Jewelry in Orland Park, a suburb of Chicago, is closing its doors.
GradingApr 14, 2025
GIA Expands Overseas Services as Tariffs Kick InGIA’s labs in Dubai and Hong Kong are now accepting larger diamonds in light of the “logistical challenges” presented by the new tariffs.
Recorded WebinarsApr 11, 2025
Watch: Top Tips for Saving Time With AITwo experts share how artificial intelligence tools can help retailers run a more efficient business.
SourcingApr 11, 2025
Mikimoto Names New President, CEO for U.S. DivisionKentaro Nishimura, who has been with the pearl company since 1997, has been promoted to president and CEO of Mikimoto America.
WatchesApr 11, 2025
Bulova Documentary Now on Amazon Prime“America Telling Time: 150 Years of Bulova” explores the storied history of the American watchmaker.
