The 18.96-carat pink diamond rectangular-cut stone was previously owned by the Oppenheimer family, and is the hero of the Magnificent Jewels auction. It is estimated to fetch between US $30-50 million (AU$41-68.8m).
Graded by the GIA, the Pink Legacy received the highest diamond colour grading of ‘vivid’ with no imperfections, and GIA executive vice president Tom Moses remarked on its rarity.
“Pink diamonds of any size and depth of colour have always had a special allure even amongst knowledgeable industry members. The 18.96-carat emerald cut pink diamond is amongst the rarest of all gemstones,” Moses said.
Christie’s International Head of Jewellery Rahul Kadakia announced: “The discovery of this previously un-recorded and remarkable diamond will cause immense excitement with collectors and connoisseurs of diamonds around the world.”
“The Pink Legacy will be exhibited on a global tour prior to being auctioned on 13 November at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues. Its exceptional provenance will no doubt propel it into a class of its own as one of the world’s greatest diamonds,” Kadakia said.
The largest pink diamond to-date to grace the Christie’s auction block broke records last November when Christie’s Hong Kong sold ‘The Pink Promise’, an oval-shaped pink diamond just under 15 carats. The diamond fetched US$32.48 million (AU$44.74m).
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