‘The Sky Blue Diamond’, an outstanding and extremely rare Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ring by Cartier weighing 8.01 carats. Estimate GBP 12-20 million (USD 15-25 million, Euro 14-23 million). Photo: Sotheby's.

GENEVA.- The centrepiece of Sotheby’s November auction of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels in Geneva will be an outstanding and extremely rare Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ring by Cartier. Weighing 8.01 carats, this mesmerising stone has been named ‘The Sky Blue Diamond’, emphasising its highly sought-after hue. This most majestic of gems will be offered on 16 November with a pre-sale estimate of $ 15 - 25 million. 

Describing the diamond, David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division, said, “The Sky Blue Diamond is of a wonderfully clear celestial blue, presented in an extremely elegant square emerald cut – in my view, the most flattering of all the cuts for a coloured diamond. This important gem will, I am sure, captivate all collectors of exceptional gemstones.” 

EXCEPTIONAL COLOUR AND CUT 
‘The Sky Blue Diamond’ has been graded Fancy Vivid Blue by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) – the highest possible colour grading, awarded to no more than 1% of blue diamonds submitted to the GIA. It was also found to have excellent polish and to be of Type IIb, a rare category which represents less than 0.5 % of all diamonds. 

BLUE DIAMONDS AT SOTHEBY’S 
Within the past two years alone, Sotheby’s has twice set a new world record auction price for a blue diamond, most recently with the only diamond or gemstone in auction history to have exceeded $4 million per carat, the Blue Moon of Josephine (sold for $48.5 million ($4,028,941 per carat) in November 2015). 

Sotheby’s has realised six of the past seven auction records per carat for Fancy Vivid Blue diamonds.

A model poses with a Fancy Vivid Blue diamond known as "The Sky Blue Diamond", mounted in a ring by Cartier, during a photocall to promote the 8.01-carat diamond ring's forthcoming auction in Geneva, at Sotheby's auctioneers in London on October 11, 2016. The ring is set to be the main attraction at Sotheby's auction of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels in Geneva on November 13, and is expected to realise GBP 12-20 million (USD 15-25 million, Euro 14-23 million). Daniel Leal-Olivas / AFP.

GENEVE - Sotheby’s a le grand plaisir de présenter son lot phare pour la vente d’automne de Haute Joaillerie « Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels » : un exceptionnel diamant Fancy Vivid Blue, d’une extrême rareté, monté en bague par Cartier. Pesant 8,01 carats, ce fascinant diamant a été nommé « The Sky Blue Diamond », en raison de sa couleur très recherchée. Ce majestueux bijou sera proposé aux enchères chez Sotheby’s à Genève le 16 novembre, avec une estimation entre 15 - 25 millions $. 

A l’annonce de la vente du « Sky Blue Diamond », David Bennett, Président Mondial du Département International de Haute Joaillerie chez Sotheby’s, a commenté : « Le Sky Blue Diamond est d’un pur bleu céleste. Sa délicate taille carrée est, à mon avis, l’une des tailles les plus flatteuses pour un diamant de couleur. Je suis certain que cette importante gemme fascinera tous les collectionneurs de diamants de couleur d’exception. »

Sur les sept plus importants prix par carat pour les diamants Fancy Vivid Blue, six ont été réalisés par Sotheby’s.