An internally “flawless” 100-carat emerald-cut diamond was shown Monday in Dubai only weeks before the jewel goes under Sotheby’s hammer in New York next month, where predictions suggest it could fetch up to $25 million
The gem, discovered a decade ago at one of De Beers mines in South Africa, is one of just five diamonds over 100 carats and of comparable quality to have been offered at auction, according to Sotheby’s.
The current owner of the diamond spent more than a year studying, cutting and polishing the rough diamond before delivering the stone to the auction house.
Sotheby’s sold the first 100-carat perfect diamond at an auction in 1990. The price per carat for these diamonds has increased from $125,000 to $260,000 from the first auction until the most recent, in 2013, the auction house said.
The stone’s details include “100.2-carat, D colour, Internally Flawless, Type IIa stone”, which, for the uninitiated, means it has the clearest colour, without any blemishes on being magnified and is free from imperfections.
Sotheby’s hopes that showcasing this “perfect” diamond in Dubai and other locations ahead of the April auction will help it attract the attention of the Middle East’s wealthy elite.
All images courtesy of Sotheby’s.
