At a recent auction held by Christie’s in Geneva, a remarkable 5.5-carat triangular-cut diamond, known as “The Ocean Dream,” was sold for a staggering $17.3 million, marking a record price for a fancy vivid blue-green diamond. This sale surpassed presale estimates, which ranged from 7 to 10 million Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately $9 to $13 million. The diamond, described as the largest of its kind known to exist, was discovered in Central Africa during the 1990s.
Rahul Kadakia, president of Christie’s Asia Pacific, confirmed that the buyer, an undisclosed private client, was willing to offer the extravagant sum. The bidding process took around 20 minutes, a duration that reflects the high level of interest in this exceptional gem. The sale price exceeded the diamond’s previous auction value of roughly $8.5 million when it was sold in 2014. “A stellar result worthy of the world’s rarest blue-green diamond,” commented Tobias Kormind, managing director of online jeweler 77 Diamonds.
The “Ocean Dream,” weighing 9.4 grams, was presented alongside a remarkable ring mount embellished with sculpted rock crystal, round diamonds, and pink diamonds. Meanwhile, a 6-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, scheduled for auction at Sotheby’s the day before, did not find a buyer despite its presale estimates ranging from 7.2 to 9.6 million francs ($9.2 million to $12.3 million). Sotheby’s has reported ongoing discussions with interested parties and remains optimistic that the gem will soon secure a new owner.
Both Christie’s and Sotheby’s pointed out a growing trend among collectors, who are increasingly attracted to rare colored diamonds, which constitute only a small fraction of the total diamonds mined worldwide. Throughout history, both auction houses have been known for selling high-profile diamonds. Notably, in 2023, Christie’s auctioned an exceptionally rare blue diamond weighing 17.61 carats for $43.8 million. In another remarkable sale in 2018, the “Pink Legacy” diamond was sold for over $50 million.
In terms of auction records, the most expensive diamond ever sold is the Pink Star. This fancy vivid pink diamond, weighing 59.60 carats, commanded an incredible $71.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong in 2017, underscoring the opulence and desirability of rare gemstones in today’s market.
