Rare Orange Diamond On Display In Hong Kong

Описание: A 14.82-carat, vivid orange diamond was displayed in Hong Kong on Monday (October 28) ahead of Christie's Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction next month.

The exceedingly rare, pear-shaped stone was mined in South Africa around 30 years ago and cut from a crystal of over 32 carats, according to Christie's senior international jewellery specialist, David Warren.

"Well Christie's are really thrilled to have this orange diamond in our sale in Geneva. It is probably one of the rarest diamonds we've ever sold. In all the years that I've been here, which is most of my life, I've never seen a stone like this," said Warren.

Both Christie's and the Gemological institute of America (GIA) said this particular diamond is the largest they have come across.

GIA added that strongly coloured diamonds in the orange hue range, known as fire diamonds, rarely exceed three or four carats once they are polished.

If it sells, the diamond could fetch could as much as $20 million, or $1.3 million per carat which would be a world record.

"Orange is one of the rarest colours. You hardly ever see an orange over three, four carats. This one is over 14 carats so it's of an exceptional size, and we estimate it from between 17-20 million (U.S.) dollars. But as it is pretty much unique, who knows what it will actually fetch," said Warren.

The last time an orange diamond of these characteristics appeared at auction, it weighed 5.54 carats and fetched $1.3 million at Sotheby's in 1997, selling to Ronald Winston, a son of Harry Wintson Inc.'s founder.

"The Orange" will go on the block on November 12 in Geneva.