Sotheby’s calls it the Ultimate Emerald-Cut Diamond—and it’s hard to argue.
The famed auctioneer will offer a 100.2 ct. D internally flawless emerald cut at its April 21 Magnificent Jewels sale in New York City. It is one of only five diamonds of that size and quality ever auctioned. (Two of those five were offered in the last three years.)
The diamond, the largest classic emerald cut ever sold at auction, is expected to fetch between $19 million and $25 million. That would come in under the price garnered by the Winston Legacy, the 101 ct. D flawless pear-shape that fetched $26.7 million in 2013, as well as the 118 ct. D flawless oval that took in $30 million that same year.
“The color is whiter than white, it is free of any internal imperfections, and so transparent that I can only compare it to a pool of icy water,” raved Gary Schuler, head of the Sotheby’s jewelry department in New York, in statement.
The original 200 ct.-plus rough was mined by De Beers in Southern Africa. The current owner spent over one year studying, cutting, and polishing it, Sotheby’s said.
The diamond will be exhibited in Dubai, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, London, and Doha, Qatar. It will be shown in New York City beginning April 17.