New York – “The Eden Rose,” a 10.20-carat fancy intense pink diamond, sold for $13.3 million at Christie’s jewelry auction on Tuesday. This price, which equals $1.3 million per carat, exceeded its pre-sale estimate of $9 million to $12 million.
Christie’s named the diamond “The Eden Rose,” symbolizing unconditional love. It is an internally flawless, round brilliant-cut stone, a rare cut for a natural color diamond.
The diamond is set in an 18-karat white gold ring with 18-karat rose gold prongs. It is surrounded by a halo of pear brilliant-cut and marquise-cut diamonds weighing between 0.73 and 3.11 carats.
Tuesday’s “Magnificent Jewels” sale marked the first time “The Eden Rose” was offered at auction. Christie’s noted that it is the most significant internally flawless, round brilliant, fancy intense pink diamond to come to auction in over a decade.
“The Eden Rose” was the top lot of the auction, which totaled $44.4 million, with 90% of the 144 lots sold.
Natural color diamonds made up four of the top five lots. Christie’s international head of jewelry, Rahul Kadakia, noted that buyers paid high prices for rare colored gemstones and natural pearls.
The second highest-grossing lot was a platinum diamond pendant necklace featuring an 84.05-carat fancy intense yellow cushion modified brilliant-cut diamond. It sold for $2.2 million, slightly above its highest pre-sale estimate of $2 million.
A platinum ring with a 2-carat fancy vivid blue heart-shaped diamond surrounded by halos of yellow and white diamonds sold for $2.1 million, within its estimated range of $1.6 million to $2.6 million.
The fourth highest-grossing lot was a set of three yellow diamonds. One was a 40.56-carat fancy intense yellow, another a 40.38-carat fancy yellow, and the third a 26.63-carat fancy yellow. The set sold for $1.7 million, at the low end of its expected range of $1.6 million to $2.6 million.
Rounding out the top five was a pair of pendant earrings featuring I-color, oval brilliant-cut diamonds weighing 23.20 and 23.05 carats. They sold for $1.4 million, at the high end of their pre-sale estimate of $1 million to $1.5 million.
For full auction results, visit the Christie’s website. The auction house’s “Jewels Online” sale continues through Thursday.