Lot 1892
  • 1892

A RARE AND IMPORTANT FANCY VIVID BLUE DIAMOND AND DIAMOND RING

Estimate
98,000,000 - 120,000,000 HKD
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Description

Set with a step-cut fancy vivid blue diamond weighing 5.00 carats, decorated with baguette diamonds, mounted in 18 karat white gold, size 6.

Condition

Accompanied by GIA report numbered 2135360540, dated 8 May 2015, stating that the 5.00 carat diamond is Fancy Vivid Blue, Natural Colour, VS2 Clarity; also accompanied by GIA monograph. For further details, please refer to the report. The side baguette diamonds are bright and lively. Very Minor signs of wear on metal, overall in excellent condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. 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. Illustrations in the catalogue may not be actual size. Prospective purchasers are reminded that, unless the catalogue description specifically states that a stone is natural, we have assumed that some form of treatment may have been used and that such treatment may not be permanent. Our presale estimates reflect this assumption.Certificates of Authenticity: Various manufacturers may not issue certificates of authenticity upon request. Sotheby's is not under an obligation to furnish the purchaser with a certificate of authenticity from the manufacturer at any time. Unless the requirements for a rescission of the sale under the Terms of Guarantee are satisfied, the failure of a manufacturer to issue a certificate will not constitute grounds to rescind the sale. Gemological Certificates and Reports: References in the catalogue descriptions to certificates or reports issued by gemological laboratories are provided only for the information of bidders, and Sotheby's does not guarantee and accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, terms or information contained in such certificates or reports. Please also note that laboratories may differ in their assessment of a gemstone (including its origin and presence, type and extent of treatments) and their certificates or reports may contain different results.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

Accompanied by GIA report no. 2135360540, dated 8 May 2015, stating that the diamond is Fancy Vivid Blue, Natural Colour, VS2 Clarity; also accompanied by GIA monograph stating 'Saturated with the color of wisdom, harmony and truth, the Ai Diamond is more than an object of beauty...Pure, strong, rare and beautiful, the Ai Diamond is an exceptional exhibit of diamond's most treasured and universal meaning: love.' _____________________________________________________________________

Love Conquers All

The allure of the blue diamond can be traced back to the initial discovery of diamonds themselves. Since reaching the one million dollars per carat price point, and consistently breaking its own price-per-carat record, the most rare, valuable and extraordinary gemstone has been the coveted fancy vivid blue diamond. For every 33,000 gem-quality diamonds uncovered, only one possess the brilliance and blue colour most sought after. Among some of the first diamonds to emerge from the legendary Kollur mine in the Golconda, blue diamonds have been treasured as the epitome of natural wonders.

With immense rarity comes exceptional value. The formation of a beautiful blue diamond takes place far beneath the depths of the earth’s mantle, where the scarce trace elements of boron can be found from the ancient oceans providing the diamond with its unrivaled colour. Following its rare composition, the gemstone must then survive a violent journey back to the surface, to be discovered. Despite all odds, these notable blue diamonds manage to be characterized by their remarkably high clarity levels. As mentioned in the GIA Monograph in recognition of the Ai ’ Diamond, “The fashioning of any colored diamond is difficult work, as even the most seemingly insignificant cut can dramatically influence color, clarity, durability, or the diamond’s overall value. Manufacturing blue diamonds is a particularly arduous process that requires careful inspection of the face-up color appearance at each stage. For this reason, only the most experienced cutters in the trade are entrusted with the task of their manipulation.”

Collectively satisfying the desired colour, clarity and cut, it is no wonder that blue diamonds have made the gemstone hall of fame time and time again. The likes of the Idol’s Eye, a 70.21 carat light blue diamond was rumored to have served as an eye in a Hindu Idol. The famous Hope Diamond, originally 112.50 carats, was brought to Europe by the famous diamond merchant, Tavernier and sold to Louise XIV, who later ordered that the gem be cut down to 67.12 carats; after the French Revolution, the gem changed various hands, most likely having been cut into a smaller gem, which we know as the 45.52 carat Hope diamond today, attracting millions of visitors to the Smithsonian Institute annually. More recently, the “Blue Moon of Josephine” set a new price-per-carat world record for any diamond or gemstone, once again paying homage to the enduring charm and desirability of the fancy vivid blue diamond.

Love, is the universal language, unspoken but omnipresent, fitting for a gem so unique and irreplaceable. The Ai ’ Diamond, Lot 1892, named after the greatest power of all: love, is a celestial treasure marrying the capabilities of nature and mankind to full display. With a shining internal clarity resonant of nature’s purity, reaching its utmost potential through the hands of a skillful cutter; the beauty that is the Ai ’ Diamond cannot be compromised nor compared.