Sotheby’s has unveiled a diamond unlike any offered before: an extraordinary 100-carat perfect diamond in a classic Emerald-cut. The remarkable 100.20-carat, D colour, Internally Flawless, Type IIa stone will highlight Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on April 21. The stone is estimated to sell for US$19 – 25 million. At this impressive scale, diamonds of this exceptional quality – D colour and Internally Flawless clarity – are incredibly rare, and are considered “perfect”. The present example joins an elite group of just five comparable-quality diamonds over 100 carats that have ever been sold at auction worldwide.
What distinguishes the present example within this rarefied league is its beautiful shape: it is the largest perfect diamond with a classic Emerald-cut ever to be offered at auction. This modern shape gives the stone an unforgettable presence, whether it is worn as a jewel or admired on its own. Since 1990, when Sotheby’s sold the first 100-carat perfect diamond at auction, until the most recent example in 2013, the price per carat for these stones has increased from US$125,000 to US$260,000. The present stone’s low estimate of $19 million represents a valuation of US$190,000 per carat.
The original rough – weighing over 200 carats – was mined by De Beers in southern Africa. The current owner spent over one year studying, cutting and polishing the rough diamond in order to deliver the spectacular stone. The diamond will be exhibited in Dubai, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, London and Doha, before returning to New York for exhibition beginning April 17.
“This 100.20-carat diamond is the definition of perfection. The colour is whiter than white, it is free of any internal imperfections, and so transparent that I can only compare it to a pool of icy water. It is the first true emerald-cut diamond over 100 carats to be offered at auction – the most classic of cuts, quietly elegant and very contemporary.” commented Gary Schuler, Head of Sotheby’s Jewelry Department in New York.