AZURE ELEGANCE

The highly anticipated New York Jewels Sale at Christies on April 22, 2010 swelled enthusiasm with collectors for two big reasons; a couple of famous gemstones with a pedigree this long went on the block.

THE HEADLINERS
Catherine the Great's Emerald and Diamond Brooch and the Maximilian Diamond both had histories so intriguing that had not their paper trail been water tight, one would seem to be reading a roman a clef. Eclipsing ambitious expectations, the brooch earned $1,650,500 US from a winning Middle Eastern collector. The Emperor's Diamond found a new home at $1,762,500 US, proving that the value of an historical rarity trumps spending concerns even in this market.

THE SCENE STEALER
Not to be overlooked was that majestic blue ice in the form of a 3.43 cushion cut VS1 Fancy Vivid Blue diamond. Fancy color diamond fans realize the dwindling opportunities for finding a natural color diamond in sizes over a half carat, so this stone was also a rare opportunity--and bidders knew it. The elegantly proportioned stone with its culet shaped to mimic the table flaunts its clarity through the cut. The bidding was all done at $3,106,000 US, or double its lowest pre-sale estimate. That's $905,000 per carat if you don't have a calculator handy. Oh, you're welcome.

HOW IT GOT THE BLUES
Diamonds are a marvel of the gemstone world, owing their construction to just one component: carbon. They are the only gem mineral comprised of a single element. In the case of blue diamonds, minute particles of boron impurities in the crystal lend the alluring tint. Most of the time, blue diamonds have a secondary color--like gray or brown which alters the saturation of the stone. Finding a diamond so straight blue is most uncommon, and warrants the laboratory description Fancy Vivid Blue. Just thought you'd like to know.

Courtesy: Christies Images Ltd., 2010

Comments

Marlene Murphy said…
oooh baby! What a beauty! Too bad I don't have a few million hanging around!

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