The Cullinan Dream – the world’s largest Fancy Intense blue diamond – could sell for more than $20 million at Christie’s next month.
The huge colored gemstone originates from the famous Cullinan Mine in South Africa, the world’s only significant source of blue diamonds.
It was also the source of the legendary Cullinan Diamond – a 3,106.75 carat rough diamond discovered in 1905, which produced the Great Star of Africa and the Second Star of Africa, two of the world’s largest white diamonds which reside amongst the British Crown jewels.
Back in 2014, a remarkable 122.52 carat rough blue diamond was discovered at the mine, from which four separate stones were cut. The Cullinan Dream is the largest of those four, weighing 24.18 carats and classed as Type IIb Fancy Intense.
Set in platinum with classic baguette-cut diamonds on either side, the Cullinan Dream will be offered with an estimate of $23-$29 million.
The sale comes hot on the heels of Christie’s record-breaking Geneva jewelry auction, which saw the 14.62 carat, Fancy Vivid Oppenheimer Blue diamond sell for $57,541,779, the highest price ever paid for a jewel sold at auction.
"Selling the world record Oppenheimer Blue diamond for $57.5 million during our Geneva May 18 Magnificent Jewels sale was a great honor and we look forward to continuing this success with the Cullinan Dream, the largest Fancy Intense blue diamond to come to auction," said Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s International Head of Jewelry.
"The success of the Oppenheimer Blue speaks to the international demand and market value of these exemplary colored diamonds and with the Cullinan Dream, Christie’s is proud to present another opportunity for collectors to acquire a rare gem being offered for the first time at auction.”
Elsewhere sale will offer more than 250 lots, including fancy colored and colorless diamonds, colored gemstones, natural pearls and signed pieces, both vintage and contemporary, from the likes of Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari, Cartier, David Webb and Graff.
The Christie’s Magnificent jewels auction takes place in New York on Thursday June 9.
