World's Largest Blue Diamond To Come To Auction Has Sold For $57.5 Million

The world's largest blue diamond ever to come to auction has sold for 450,925,000 HKD, or $57.5 million.

Named "The De Beers Cullinan Blue," the massive 15.10-carat step-cut gem sold at Sotheby's in Hong Kong after an eight-minute bidding war among four hopeful buyers, according to Sotheby's. The winning bid, which surpassed its high estimate of $48 million, came from an anonymous buyer by telephone.

The rare diamond was found in South Africa's Cullinan mine in 2021, and it has attained the highest rankings that colored diamonds are judged by.

According to a statement from Sotheby's, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) categorized the jewel as "fancy vivid blue" -- the top color grading, which has been awarded to no more than 1% of blue diamonds submitted to the organization.

Source : cnn