Written by: Kayan Chan
Sotheby's Hong Kong this season brought the largest Fancy Vivid blue diamond in auction history, weighing 15.1 carats and estimated at HK$380 million, the best of all lots.
In order to solemnize the matter, xingfang inserted it into the middle of two important scenes - modern and contemporary art evening shooting, grabbing the focus. As a result, the giant diamond, known as "De Beers Blue", changed hands for HK$450 million, matching the blue diamond auction record.
The De Beers Blue color is the highest Fancy Vivid Fancy Vivid grade, with less than 1% of blue diamonds in GIA ratings reaching this level. The clarity is flawless inside, and the step-cut is the largest of its kind of Fancy Vivid blue diamonds that GIA has identified.
Lot 1800
The De Beers Blue
15.1 ct Fancy Vivid blue diamonds, rectangular stepped cut, flawless inside clarity
Estimate pending (Expected transaction price over HK$380,000,000)
Hammer drop price: HK$390,000,000
Realized price: HK$450,925,000 Auction House: Sotheby's Hong Kong
Special: De Beers De Beers Haoyu Blue
Auction date: 27 April 2022
Before the gavel was raised, the bank had already found an "Irrevocable Bid" (IB) for this giant diamond, that is, to find a buyer in advance and avoid the worry of auction. However, the Blue Diamond has successfully caused several collectors to compete, so there is no need to use this guarantee.
The auctioneer started with HK$310 million, with at least 4 people bidding, spanning Hong Kong and London, and a total of 11 bids were made. The final hammer was priced at HK$390 million, and as Man Ho (Chairman of Jewellery & Watches Asia) sold for HK$450 million for a client of the grade "101", the commission was listed alongside The Oppenheimer Blue as the most expensive blue diamond in the history of auction.
Due to the exchange rate problem, the transaction price of the two blue diamonds is actually high and low under different currencies, and it is difficult to distinguish between them.
- Oppenheimer Blue Diamond, 14.62 Carat| 2016 Christie's Geneva, CHF 56.8 million (HK$446,812,000)
- De Beers Blue, 15.1 Carat| 2022 Sotheby's Hong Kong, HK$450 million (CHF 55,681,000)
Based on the above questions, we also compared the US dollar transaction prices published by the two banks together. Since both are US$57.5 million, the most expensive blue diamond throne is divided equally.
Yu Wenhao cast "De Beers Haoyu Blue" for customers
Oppenheimer Blue Diamonds, 56.8 million Swiss francs| 14.62 carat Fancy Vivid blue diamonds, rectangular cut, VVS1 clarity
The giant diamond at sotheby's auction is called "The De Beers Blue", and the name tells the story.
The diamond comes from diamond giant De Beers, a group that has long dominated diamond mining and trading. In April 2021, the rough of this blue diamond was mined at the Cullinan Mine. There are only a few mines in the world that can mine blue diamonds, and this legendary diamond mine in South Africa is one of them, which provides for most of the world's blue diamond production.
In addition to blue diamonds, many of the world's most famous diamonds also come from this, such as the world's largest cut diamond, the 530-carat "Great Star of Africa".
"De Beers Blue of The Universe" rough
As for the "Haoyu Blue" of this diamond, it comes from the trace amount of boron in the crystal structure. Blue diamonds are rare, accounting for only 0.02% of diamond mining, and the highest color level is even rarer, according to statistics, on average, one of the 33,000 gem-quality diamonds.
This blue diamond is cut in a rectangular step-cut to make the diamond look more simple and elegant. Since the facets are rectangular and flat, the slightest imperfection can be very noticeable, so this cut has higher clarity requirements for the diamond itself.
"De Beers Blue"
Blue diamonds are highly appreciated by ancient and modern Chinese and foreign collectors, and the auction results can be described as invincible. In recent years, the most generous shot is the wealthy Hong Kong businessman "Big Liu" Liu Luanxiong.
In 2014, Da Liu threw US$32.6 million (about HK$250 million) to get a 9.75 ct Fancy Vivid blue diamond in New York, which he named "The Zoe Diamond" after his daughter.
A year later, Da Liu shot again and bought a sky-high blue diamond for another daughter. He won a 12.03 ct blue diamond from Sotheby's in Geneva for 48.6 million Swiss francs (about HK$370 million) and named it "The Blue Moon of Josephine" as a gift to his daughter. This blue diamond is still the most expensive diamond per card in auction history.
Josephine's Blue Moon of Josephine | 12.03 carat Fancy Vivid blue diamonds in a cushion-shaped cut with flawless interiors
The Zoe Diamond | 9.75 ct Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond, pear-cut, VVS2 clarity