Regarded as the largest natural fancy vivid green diamond in the world, “The Aurora Green” fetched US$16.8 million at Christie’s Hong Kong Spring Sales of Magnificent Jewels on May 31, setting a world record for a green diamond, according to the auction house.
Hong Kong-based jeweller Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd purchased the 5.03-carat rectangular-cut fancy vivid green diamond ring surrounded by circular-cut pink diamonds for a price per carat of US$3,343,733.
Proceeds from the Magnificent Jewels auction reached US$60.68 million. Along with five additional lots offered as part of the “Christie’s 30 Years: The Sale,” which amounted to US$24.79 million, overall sales was US$85 million.
Vickie Sek, deputy chairman for Asia and director of Christie’s Asia jewellery department, commented, “On our 30th anniversary, we were pleased to offer our clients the very best in the world of jewels, which was exemplified by four new world auction records: The Aurora Green diamond; a pair of ruby ear pendants that sold for US$11.6 million; a Kashmir sapphire bracelet by Cartier, snapped up for US$7.2 million; and a jadeite pendant necklace by Wallace Chan, which achieved US$967,000.”
The sale drew a total of 197 buyers from 19 countries across five continents.