World’s largest fancy vivid orange diamond will be offered at Christie’s auction of Magnificent Jewels to be held in Geneva on 12 November 2013. The 14.82-carat diamond which is also the largest fancy vivid orange diamond ever to appear at auction is expected to fetch $17 – 20 million at the sale. Pure orange stone, which gemologist Edwin Streeter called “fire diamonds” in his 1882 book “The Great Diamonds of the World,” are exceptionally rare in nature. It has been with the same anonymous owner for at least 30 years, the auction house said, describing its clarity as VS1.
“It’s very, very good, but it has natural imperfections,” said Alan Bronstein, a consultant in colored diamonds, who knows the stone. The only other fancy vivid orange diamond sold at auction weighed 5.54 carats. Known as “The Pumpkin Diamond,” it fetched $1.3 million at Sotheby’s in 1997, selling to Ronald Winston, a son of the Harry Winston founder.
Christie’s sale, which take place at Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues will comprise over 280 lots, including some of the rarest gems, impressive period and signed jewels as well as Royal treasures. Other highlights of the sale include an exceptional ruby and coloured diamond ring, set with an oval – shaped ruby, weighing approximately 5.09 carats, estimated to fetch $1,6 – 2,7 million.
