Home / Business and Economy / Blue-Green Diamond Shatters Auction Record
Blue-Green Diamond Shatters Auction Record
14 May
Summary
- A 5.5-carat blue-green diamond sold for over $17.3 million.
- The 'Ocean Dream' diamond was found in Central Africa.
- Collectors increasingly favor rare, colored diamonds.
A 5.5-carat triangular-cut diamond, identified as the largest fancy vivid blue-green diamond known, achieved a record-breaking price of over 13.5 million Swiss francs ($17.3 million) at a Christie's auction in Geneva. The stone, named 'Ocean Dream,' significantly exceeded its presale estimate of $9-13 million.
Discovered in Central Africa during the 1990s, the 'Ocean Dream' diamond previously sold for approximately $8.5 million in 2014. Its recent sale price more than doubled that amount, underscoring its rarity and appeal to collectors.
This high-profile sale contrasts with a nearby Sotheby's auction where a six-carat fancy vivid blue diamond from South Africa's Cullinan mine did not sell, despite an estimate of $9.2-12.3 million. However, Sotheby's is reportedly in discussions with interested parties for a private sale.
Both auction houses note a surge in collector demand for rare colored diamonds, which represent a small fraction of overall diamond production.
