GENEVA (AP) — The Sun-Drop Diamond of South Africa, a giant pear-shaped yellow gem weighing 110.3 carats, has sold for more than $10.9 million at auction Tuesday, beating previous records for a jewel of its type.
Including commission the unidentified telephone bidder paid almost $12.4 million for the gem, putting it within the $11 million to $15 million range Sotheby's had estimated before the sale.
"It's a record for a yellow diamond at auction," said David Bennett, the head of Sotheby's jewelry division. He added that it was the eighth most expensive diamond ever sold at auction.
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A model displays a 110.03 carats Sun-Drop Diamond described as fancy vivid yellow, the highest color grading, by gemstone experts, at a Sotheby`s preview show in Geneva, Switzerland. (AP) |
After Sotheby's sold a 24.78-carat fancy intense pink diamond for a record-breaking $46 million last year, some had expected the auction's headline piece to finish higher.
"When it gets to this price there are only half a dozen people who can actually participate," said Mourad Hatik, a Geneva jewel trader. "If they decide they already have a similar stone, then the price doesn't go up."
Still, exceptional gems such as the Sun-Drop will always attract bidders, he said. "There is very little quality to buy."
The Sun-Drop, which was found in South Africa last year, was put up for sale by New York-based company Cora International.
Gemologists had rated it as fancy, vivid yellow — the highest possible color grading. Yellow diamonds are created by nitrogen impurities being trapped within carbon molecules and hardening over the course of millions of years.
Other lots at the $70 million sale in Geneva's Beau-Rivage hotel included a white cushion-shaped diamond weighing 38.88 carats that sold for almost $7 million, including commission.
A 12.01-carat emerald from Colombia's Muzo mine sold for $1.4 million, while a blue diamond ring was snapped up for $4.3 million.
However, several precious jewels — including an elaborate gold and diamond 'peace dove' brooch, a blue diamond ring estimated at over $7.5 million, and a suite of imperial jewels — failed to find a buyer.
The set comprising a necklace, brooch and pair of earrings was given by the Ottoman Empire's Sultan Abdul Hamid II to the wife of the Khedive of Egypt in the late 19th century.
Sotheby's said some of the gems may have been part of a peace offering given by Russian Czar Peter the Great's wife Catherine to Ottoman Sultan Ahmed II in 1711. A bid of $9.3 million wasn't
<한글기사>
엄지손가락크기 다이아몬드, 가격은 얼마나?
여성의 엄지손가락만한 110.3캐럿짜리 노란 다이아몬드가 15일(현지시간) 소더비 경매에서 1천90만달러(약 123억원)에 낙찰됐다.
경매업체 소더비에 따르면 물방울 모양을 닮아 '태양의 눈물(Sun-Drop)'이라고 불리는 이 다이아몬드는 이날 스위스 제네바에서 열린 보석경매에서 익명의 전화입찰자에게 팔렸다.
경매 수수료를 포함한 낙찰액은 1천240만달러로, 이는 지금까지 경매에 나온 노란 다이아몬드 중 최고가다.
소더비 측은 '태양의 눈물'이 다이아몬드 경매 사상8번째로 비싸게 팔렸다고 덧붙였다.
다이아몬드 경매 사상 최고가 기록은 지난해 소더비 경매에서 4천600만달러(약520억원)에 낙찰된 24.78캐럿짜리 강렬한 핑크색 다이아몬드가 지키고있다.
이번 경매에서 판매된 노란 다이아몬드는 지난해 남아프리카공화국의 광산에서 발견됐으며 미국의 다이아몬드 회사 '코라'가 세공 후 경매에 내놨다.
다이아몬드가 선명한 노란색을 띠는 이유는 원석의 탄소 구조물 안에 포함된 질소의 양이 적기 때문이다. 질소 불순물이 탄소 분자 안에 갇힌 채 수백만 년간 굳어져야 노란 다이아몬드가 나온다.
'팬시 다이아몬드'라고 부르는 노란색, 핑크색 등의 유색 다이아몬드는 희소가치가 있어 시장가격이 매우 높게 형성돼있다.
