The World’s Most Vivid Pink Diamond Just Sold at Sotheby’s
Sotheby’s has revealed that it will offer for sale at auction the most vivid pink diamond ever to come to the market – The Eternal Pink. This pink diamond sold at over $35 million, which makes it the most valuable purplish pink diamond ever to appear at auction. This one-of-a-kind stone is cushion cut, weighs 10.57 carats, is graded as Internally Flawless, and Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink in color. Its estimated value is the highest price per carat ever placed on any diamond or gemstone, which is $3,311,258.
Natural color diamonds of any size, color, or intensity have always maintained a special allure and reputation due to their extreme value and rarity, but this diamond truly stands above almost any that has come before. The Eternal Pink is considered “the quintessential pink.” The gem possesses an unparalleled color and brightness that is thoroughly captivating and enchanting, with an aura that has been described by experts as glowing to the human eye.
“The 10.57-carat Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink diamond is a stunning specimen, one of nature’s great wonders transformed through artistry and ingenuity. Its refined lines combined with the intensity of its color earn it a place as one of the world’s most extraordinary gems.” Tom Moses, Executive Vice President, Chief Laboratory & Research Officer at The Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Sotheby’s is no stranger to the world’s rarest and most valuable gems. The Eternal Pink will also challenge the price per carat record for any diamond or gemstone ever sold at auction, set by The Williamson Pink Star, an 11.15-carat Fancy Vivid Pink Internally Flawless diamond, which sold at Sotheby’s in October 2022 for $5,178,124 per carat. The record-breaking CTF Pink Star, a 59.60-carat oval Fancy Vivid Pink Internally Flawless diamond was also auctioned by Sotheby’s. Its sale price of $71.2 million makes it the most valuable gemstone ever sold at auction.
The 23.78-carat rough diamond that yielded The Eternal Pink was recovered by De Beers at the Damtshaa mine in Botswana, and it took Diacore’s team of artisans six intense months to fashion it into an exquisite cushion cut, maximizing the diamond’s electric “bubblegum” color to its full potential.
When it comes to assessing the value of diamonds using the 4C’s, color reigns supreme and stands out above all other criteria in the case of colored diamonds. Surprisingly, colored diamonds make up less than 3% of all diamonds examined by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), making them truly unique and rare. Among these colored diamonds, pink diamonds are considered to be one of the rarest and most sought after. Interestingly, the exact cause of the highly coveted pink hue in diamonds remains mostly a mystery. Unlike other colored diamonds that owe their color to trace elements like nitrogen or boron, the origin of the pink hue is not fully understood by diamond experts.
For most natural diamond colors, the “Fancy Vivid” grade is the pinnacle of excellence, and it’s a rating that’s been achieved by this stunning 10.57-carat stone. The addition of a purple hue to this impressive diamond adds a vibrancy that many find irresistible. It’s no secret that the value of pink diamonds and other natural color diamonds has skyrocketed over the years, and for good reason. Natural diamonds such as this 10.57 carat Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink are incredibly difficult to come by. The GIA has conducted extensive research on pink diamonds, and even they have only come across a handful of diamonds that can be classified as “Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink.” This speaks volumes about the unique and exceptional nature of The Eternal Pink.
Quig Bruning, Head of Sotheby’s Jewelry, Americas, said that “this color is the most beautiful and concentrated shade of pink in diamonds that I have ever seen or has ever come to market. Sotheby’s is honored to behold this exceptional jewel and present it to the world this June, as it makes its grand debut on the auction block, joining the ranks of the most important diamonds in history. The Eternal Pink’s immense presence and great rarity make it comparable to ultimate masterpieces of art – far rarer than a Magritte or a Warhol. Combined with its exceptional clarity, it is not surprising that it would command the highest per-carat pre-sale estimate for any diamond to date.”
Sotheby’s will present the Eternal Pink in Hong Kong from April 1 to 7 to coincide with the 50th-anniversary celebrations of its presence in Asia, and the gem will then embark on a global tour with exhibitions in Dubai, Singapore, Shanghai, Taiwan, and Geneva. After the exhibitions, it will be auctioned at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on June 8.
