Christie’s Hong Kong Offers 12.04-Carat ‘Martian Pink’ Diamond

By Erika W.

A rare 12.04-carat fancy intense pink diamond will be offered at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale on May 29, 2012. The diamond is the property of a private collector who purchased the stone from Harry Winston in 1976, the same year the Viking 1 mission successfully landed on Mars. The stone was later named the “Martian Pink” to commemorate the first U.S. Mars landing. Christie’s states the diamond is the largest round fancy intense pink diamond to ever appear at auction and that there are only two known round pinks of this significant size in the world. The other is the 23.6ct pink Williamson Diamond, which was given to Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) in 1947.

An 11.85ct D VVS1 round brilliant-cut diamond will also be offered at Christie’s May 29 sale at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

12.04 Fancy Intense Martian Pink Diamond to be auctioned at Christie's Hong Kong
Photo: Christie’s

The “Martian Pink," a 12.04ct Fancy Intense Pink (Type IIa) diamond, will be auctioned at Christie’s Hong Kong on May 29, 2012.

11.85ct D VVS1 round brilliant-cut diamond and 12.04 Fancy Intense Pink (Type IIa) round brilliant-cut diamond to be auctioned at Christie's Hong Kong
Photo: Christie’s

Left: 11.85ct D VVS1 round brilliant-cut diamond (estimate: $1.7-2.5 million) – Right: The “Martian Pink,” a 12.04ct fancy intense pink round brilliant-cut diamond (estimate: $8-10 million)