$50m High Estimate for Record 23-ct Golconda Blue
April 14, 25
(IDEX Online) - The largest fancy vivid blue diamond ever offered at auction - a 23.24-carat pear-shaped gem from India's famed Golconda mines - could sell for as much as $50m at Christie's Geneva next month.
The Golconda Blue, recovered over a century ago, belonged to Yeshwant Rao Holkar II (1908-1961), the last Maharaja of Indore, the largest city in India's central state of Madhya Pradesh.
It was set by the iconic Harry Winston as a brooch with a matching white diamond, and subsequently by the Parisian designer JAR as a striking contemporary ring.
It will headline the headline Magnificent Jewels sale on 14 May, with an estimate of $35m to $50m.
Rahul Kadakia, Christie's international head of jewelry said: "Exceptional noble gems of this caliber come to market once in a lifetime. With its Royal heritage, extraordinary color, and exceptional size, The Golconda Blue is truly one of the rarest blue diamonds in the world."
The record auction price for a blue diamond is $57.5m, achieved by the 15.10-cts De Beers Blue Diamond (also a fancy vivid blue), which was sold by Sotheby's Hong Kong in April 2022.
The Golconda Blue will be offered for sale a day after another exceptional blue diamond goes under the hammer - The Mediterranean Blue, a fancy vivid 10.3-carat VS2 cushion modified brilliant gem, to be sold at Sotheby's Geneva with a $20m estimate.