GENEVA, Switzerland – An 18-carat pear-shaped pink diamond was auctioned on Tuesday for 28.4 million Swiss francs ($28.8 million), which includes taxes and commissions, auction house Christie’s said.
“Fortune Pink” is considered the greatest of its kind and form, Christie’s in Geneva reported. It was estimated that it would cost between $25 and 35 million.
The buyer was reported to be an Asian customer, without giving further details.
Max Fawcett, head of Christie’s jewelery division in Geneva, said the strong pink gem was mined in Brazil more than 15 years ago. He declined to identify its owner, but described the diamond as “a true miracle of nature”.
“We have tremendous interest in the gem from all over the world,” Fawcett said in an interview. “It really is a wonderful diamond.”
Six months after the auction came Christie’s “The Rock”—a 228-carat white diamond believed to be the largest of its kind at auction—for more than $21.75 million, including fees. It was at the low point of the expected range.
The pink gem was auctioned after an exhibition tour of New York, Shanghai, Singapore and Taiwan before arriving in Geneva.
Christies said the first recorded pink diamond was found in the 16th century in the mines of Golconda, India, before others were found in places such as Africa, Australia, Brazil and Russia.
Someone in California matches all 6 numbers in a Powerball drawing and walks away with the historic prize of $2.04 billion.
