Described as a ‘miracle of nature,’ the 8.08-carat cushion-cut fancy blue diamond is set alongside triangular-cut diamonds in a platinum ring by Bulgari. According to Christie’s New York, this is “among the finest blue diamonds ever to have come to market,” and has been certified as a VS2 clarity and Type IIb by a GIA 2018 report. Original estimates placed the ring between ($13,000,000 and $18,000,000), however it exceeded its high estimate selling for $18,312,500.
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels Auction, which comprised 370 lots and sold 83% of them, achieved a total of $69,225,750. Christie’s concludes 2018 as jewelry market leader for the 25thconsecutive year with a total of $429.3 million in global jewelry auction sales.