Lot 501
  • 501

A highly important and rare cushion-shaped diamond weighing 38.88 carats

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Description

  • platinum and diamond
The unmounted cushion-shaped diamond weighing 38.88 cts.

Condition

Please note that online bidding is not available for this lot. Mounted as a ring, stamped PT 950 for platinum. In very good condition. Please refer to the GIA report and type classification report for further information on this diamond.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Please note that colour, clarity and weight of gemstones are statements of opinion only and not statements of fact by Sotheby's. We do not guarantee, and are not responsible for any certificate from a gemological laboratory that may accompany the property. We do not guarantee that watches are in working order. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue, in particular to the Notice regarding the treatment and condition of gemstones and to the Notice regarding import of Burmese jadeite and rubies into the US.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

Mounted as a ring, stamped Pt 950 for platinum. In very good condition.

Introduced at the beginning of the 20th century, the modern cushion-cut derives from ancient cushion-cut diamonds, sometimes referred to as 'old mine' cuts.  The most famous predecessor of today's cushion-cut is the 140.64 carat Regent diamond, formerly a part of the French Crown Jewels, currently conserved at the Louvre, Paris.  Discovered in Golconda, India in 1698 and sent to England to be cut between 1704 and 1706, the Regent became one of the first important examples of cushion-shaped diamonds. Probably developed in the 17th century, this cut slowly replaced the former dominant style of faceting, step-cutting.  This experimentation with perpendicular cuts, as opposed to horizontal ones, ultimately led to the development of the true round brilliant-cut, in the late 19th century.  


As stated by the GIA, "The allure of a particular diamond depends more on cut than anything else.  Though extremely difficult to analyse or quantify, the cut of any diamond has three attributes: brilliance (the total light reflected from a diamond), fire (the dispersion of light into the colours of the spectrum), and scintillation (the flashes of light, or sparkle, when a diamond is moved)".  A well cut cushion-shaped diamond - and this 38.88 carat stone has been graded Excellent Polish and Excellent Symmetry - can bring these three attributes together, allowing light to perform in magical, breath-taking ways.
This superb 38.88 carats cushion-shaped diamond has not only received the highest colour and clarity grade from the GIA for white diamonds, D Colour, Flawless Clarity but has also been found to be part of the rare Type IIa subgroup. Stones in this group, which comprise less than 2 % of all gem diamonds, are chemically the purest of all diamond crystals and often have extraordinary optical transparency.