Lot 139Ω
A fine fancy pink diamond
Amended
26 September 2018, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £2,228,750 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Jewellery specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
Jewellery (UK)
Client Services (UK)
Shipping (UK)
A fine fancy pink diamond
The square-cut Fancy Pink diamond, weighing 5.03 carats
Footnotes
Accompanied by a report from GIA stating that the diamond is Fancy Pink colour, VS1 clarity. Report number 5192291260, dated 20 April 2018.
Pink diamonds are exceedingly rare in nature. It is estimated that only one in 10,000 gem quality diamonds produced in the world show noticeable colour and of these a similarly small percentage are pink, the majority under 2.00 carats in size. How they occur is romantically enigmatic; unlike most other coloured diamonds, their colour is caused not by trace elements in their chemical composition but by a lucky miracle of nature, a distortion within their atomic lattice caused by the pressure exerted on them during their formation.
Throughout millennia of diamond mining, pink diamonds have been unearthed only occasionally, historically in India and later in Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa. The best specimens have been kept as treasures in the collections of royalty, rulers and museums, sought after and celebrated for their elusive beauty. Traditionally considered a gemmological curiosity, the last 50 years have seen a great shift in perception.
In the late 1970s pink diamond-bearing lamproite rock was discovered at the Argyle mine in East Kimberley, Western Australia producing a limited but steady number of small fine quality pink and red diamonds each year. The mine quickly became recognised as the only consistent source in the world. This small but regular supply, alongside informative marketing campaigns, piqued industry and public interest in pink diamonds and the rarity of coloured diamonds. The last few decades have seen the value of fine coloured diamonds increase exponentially. With the Argyle mine forecast to cease operations by 2020, the future of pink diamond mining is uncertain as there are no other known mines with such a consistent production; pink diamonds may become increasingly rare.
This pink diamond, offered at auction for the first time, weighs 5.03 carats and possesses an exceptional combination of characteristics. The Gemological Institute of America has graded it as Fancy Pink colour and VS1 clarity. It is extremely unusual to find a pure pink diamond, of even saturation, with no secondary modifying component colours, weighing over 5.00 carats. The beauty of the diamond's colour and its high clarity grade is further offset by its elegant square cut, with a minimum of facets. It is of extraordinary beauty and a gift of nature.
Bonhams is delighted to offer such an important pink diamond for sale.
Saleroom notices
Please note there will be no live bidding available on this lot.
