A flawless 102-carat diamond, described as “one of the world’s most perfect diamonds,” has sold for US$26.7 million (A$27.4 million) – making it the world’s most expensive colourless diamond ever sold at auction.
Jewellery and watch company Harry Winston, which was recently acquired by the Swatch Group, purchased the D-coloured, pear-shaped stone and named it the “Winston Legacy”. As previously reported by Jeweller, the successful buyer would gain the privilege of naming the diamond.
The stone was part of Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction, which was held on 15 May and had an overall total sale of about US$102 million (A$104.7 million). This was the highest result for a various-owner jewellery auction in Geneva.
Also in Geneva, 1950s and 1960s screen legend Gina Lollobrigida’s collection of jewellery sold for a total of CHF 4.7 million (A$5 million) at Sotheby’s, setting an auction record for natural pearl ear pendants.
The pearl and diamond earrings, which the former leading sex symbol reportedly wore on numerous landmark occasions in her career, sold for CHF 2.3 million (A$2.4 million). The sale topped the US$1.9 million (A$1.95 million) figure paid for Elizabeth Taylor’s pearl earrings in 2011.
The 85-year-old Italian actress attended the auction on 14 May and said she intended to put the money raised towards advancing stem cell research in Italy.
“Jewels are meant to give pleasure and for many years I had enormous pleasure wearing mine,” Lollobrigida said.
“Selling my jewels to help raise awareness of stem cell therapy, which can cure so many illnesses, seems to me a wonderful use to which to put them.”
The jewellery was part of Sotheby’s Magnificent and Noble Jewels auction, which had almost 650 lots, selling for a combined total of CHF 74.8 million (A$79 million). A 74.53-carat fancy yellow diamond also set an auction record, selling for CHF 2.9 million (A$3 million).
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