Christies to Auction 101.27 carat Diamond!

[niceice]

From National Jeweler, February 19, 2008:

Hong Kong—Christie''s will put a 101.27-carat diamond on the auction block on May 28 during its spring jewelry sale in Hong Kong.

The gemstone is the largest colorless diamond to appear at auction in 18 years and bidding is expected to exceed $6 million. The winning bidder will have the privilege of naming the stone.

The stone was cut from a 460-carat rough diamond, certified by the Gemological Institute of America as having F color, VVSI clarity and an "excellent" grade in both polish and symmetry.

"Only three colorless diamonds of over 100 carats have ever appeared at auction, all sold in Geneva," Christie''s Chairman of Jewelry Francois Curiel said in a statement. "With Asia becoming such a vibrant market, it is fitting that this rarest gem should be offered on May 28 to the growing number of collectors in this region."

The diamond will be unveiled during Christie''s Spring Masterpieces Exhibition, scheduled for Feb. 23-27 in London.

Christie''s jewelry auctions take place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Geneva; Hong Kong; London; New York; Paris and Milan, Italy.

The auction house reported jewelry sales of $395 million in 2007, an 11 percent increase over 2006 sales of $355 million.

Other notable diamonds recently auctioned off by Christie''s include the 53.71-carat "Dubai Magnificence," a pear-shaped, D-color, flawless-clarity stone sold in New York in December.

 

[strmrdr]

its big,,, but,,,
its also fugly!

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 2/19/2008 10:17:20 PM
Author: strmrdr
its big,,, but,,,
its also fugly!

Yup reminds me of a trilliant on steroids. I know........ I am terrible, LOL!!!

 

[hairgirl95]

So, who wants to go halves on this purchase and split custody with me??!! LOL

 

[EricaR]

I''m just amazed that something that large has such a high clarity rating. I guess I had always imagined bigger stones to be a mess of inclusions.

 

[denverappraiser]

Date: 2/20/2008 1:04:13 AM
Author: EricaR
I''m just amazed that something that large has such a high clarity rating. I guess I had always imagined bigger stones to be a mess of inclusions.

That’s why they’re hoping to get 6 million dollars for it.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[CrookedRock]

Pretty amaizing as far as clarity goes!! But this is PS!!! Who is the brainiac who cut that sucker????

I agree SDL... How on earth would you set that thing???

 

[gwendolyn]

Looks like a bookend or something to put on a coffee table. Or maybe you could turn it into a headlight?

 

[ksinger]

Hey! I know!! A hood ornament on one of the several vintage Rolls the purchaser will undoubtedly own!!

Or how about in a tiara?? But only if it fits really well (otherwise it''s gonna slide down your forehead from the weight) and you are wearing a sturdy neck brace....

I''m like everyone else....it''s not very attractive. I''m sure they were trying to cut it as large as possible, but yikes!

 

[tberube]

Wow....forgive me for saying, but what a weird cut. Almost seems like a waste for such a big diamond. What the heck IS that cut called, anyway?

 

[diagem]

Date: 2/20/2008 9:26:17 AM
Author: tberube
Wow....forgive me for saying, but what a weird cut. Almost seems like a waste for such a big diamond. What the heck IS that cut called, anyway?

Probably categorized as a Modified Shield...

 

[diagem]

Date: 2/20/2008 8:03:38 AM
Author: denverappraiser

Date: 2/20/2008 1:04:13 AM
Author: EricaR
I''m just amazed that something that large has such a high clarity rating. I guess I had always imagined bigger stones to be a mess of inclusions.

That’s why they’re hoping to get "ONLY" 6 million dollars for it.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

You forgot the word only Neil...

If it was a conventional cut (like a Cushion or Emerald-Cut)... a Diamond this size and quality would probably sell for over $9 Mil.
Christies are hoping for $6 Mil???

I am willing to bet it will remain unsold....

Bets anyone?

 

[niceice]

Date: 2/20/2008 8:32:27 AM
Author: ksinger
Hey! I know!! A hood ornament on one of the several vintage Rolls the purchaser will undoubtedly own!!

Or how about in a tiara?? But only if it fits really well (otherwise it''s gonna slide down your forehead from the weight) and you are wearing a sturdy neck brace....

I''m like everyone else....it''s not very attractive. I''m sure they were trying to cut it as large as possible, but yikes!

I thought is might make a good hood ornament for the $4.8 Million diamond studded Mercedes https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/mercedes-sl550-diamond-exterior.79137/ or crystal coated Mercedes as the case may be...

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 2/20/2008 12:19:12 PM
Author: niceice

Date: 2/20/2008 8:32:27 AM

Author: ksinger

Hey! I know!! A hood ornament on one of the several vintage Rolls the purchaser will undoubtedly own!!


Or how about in a tiara?? But only if it fits really well (otherwise it''s gonna slide down your forehead from the weight) and you are wearing a sturdy neck brace....


I''m like everyone else....it''s not very attractive. I''m sure they were trying to cut it as large as possible, but yikes!

I thought is might make a good hood ornament for the $4.8 Million diamond studded Mercedes https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/mercedes-sl550-diamond-exterior.79137/ or crystal coated Mercedes as the case may be...

haha! Good point. It would be great as a hood ornament on that mercedes.

 

[LegacyGirl]

You know they lost so much weight already I don''t know why they just wouldn''t cut off a little more to make it actually look pretty....

Can someone compare that to something in real life for me? Like is it as big as a softball? A basketball? I''m having trouble imagining how big it is.

 

[diagem]

Date: 2/20/2008 2:36:47 PM
Author: LegacyGirl
You know they lost so much weight already I don't know why they just wouldn't cut off a little more to make it actually look pretty....

Can someone compare that to something in real life for me? Like is it as big as a softball? A basketball? I'm having trouble imagining how big it is.

Which "little more" part would you cut off?

Take into consideration every point is valued at approx. $600.--

 

[CaptAubrey]

Date: 2/20/2008 2:36:47 PM
Author: LegacyGirl
You know they lost so much weight already I don''t know why they just wouldn''t cut off a little more to make it actually look pretty....


Can someone compare that to something in real life for me? Like is it as big as a softball? A basketball? I''m having trouble imagining how big it is.

It was cut into this funky free-form shape to get it in above the magic 100 ct threshold.

A 100 carat diamond is maybe 2/3-3/4 the size of a pack of cigarettes, give or take, depending on the cut.

 

[kcoursolle]

Date: 2/20/2008 6:16:19 PM
Author: CaptAubrey

Date: 2/20/2008 2:36:47 PM
Author: LegacyGirl
You know they lost so much weight already I don''t know why they just wouldn''t cut off a little more to make it actually look pretty....


Can someone compare that to something in real life for me? Like is it as big as a softball? A basketball? I''m having trouble imagining how big it is.

It was cut into this funky free-form shape to get it in above the magic 100 ct threshold.

A 100 carat diamond is maybe 2/3-3/4 the size of a pack of cigarettes, give or take, depending on the cut.

I agree, they probably cut it in that ugly shape to stay above 100 carats. however, I would have much rather had an 80 carat diamond cut in a lovely shape...but maybe that would only price for millions less...it''s all about the $$$''s right?

 

[CaptAubrey]

Date: 2/20/2008 6:20:33 PM
Author: kcoursolle

Date: 2/20/2008 6:16:19 PM

Author: CaptAubrey

It was cut into this funky free-form shape to get it in above the magic 100 ct threshold.


A 100 carat diamond is maybe 2/3-3/4 the size of a pack of cigarettes, give or take, depending on the cut.

I agree, they probably cut it in that ugly shape to stay above 100 carats. however, I would have much rather had an 80 carat diamond cut in a lovely shape...but maybe that would only price for millions less...it''s all about the $$$''s right?

Generally, yes.

Nothing''s stopping you from having it recut, if you have $6 million you don''t need.

 

[mia1181]

Date: 2/20/2008 2:36:47 PM
Author: LegacyGirl
You know they lost so much weight already I don''t know why they just wouldn''t cut off a little more to make it actually look pretty....

Can someone compare that to something in real life for me? Like is it as big as a softball? A basketball? I''m having trouble imagining how big it is.

 

[mia1181]

oops

 

[cutes814]

it doesn''t even look like a diamond. more like a regular ole paperweight.

 

[DiamondExpert]

Because only three colorless diamonds of over 100 carats have ever appeared at auction, I''m thinking it will not only be sold, but also that it will go for substantially more than $6M...and that no one will ever know to whom it was sold - it will disappear to somewhere in the middle/far east or Brunei perhaps

 

[LegacyGirl]

Date: 2/20/2008 8:25:06 PM
Author: mia1181
oops

Thank you! That was perfect. I know that probably seemed like a stupid question but I had no idea how big that thing was.

I still say they should have made it pretty... what are you going to do with that thing? Stick it to your head like a giant bindi?

 

[LegacyGirl]

Date: 2/20/2008 9:25:00 PM
Author: Milly
it doesn''t even look like a diamond. more like a regular ole paperweight.

I agree

 

[Imdanny]

Let it disappear. It''s the ugliest thing I''ve ever seen.

 

[LegacyGirl]

It reminds me of a coffin.