32ct. Desert Rose Smashes High Estimate at Sotheby’s in Abu Dhabi

Sotheby’s sold the world’s largest fancy-vivid-orangy-pink diamond last week in Abu Dhabi, where the stone raked in $8.8 million, beating its upper estimate.

The Desert Rose — a pear-shaped, 31.68-carat, VVS1-clarity unmounted diamond — surpassed its $7 million high estimate at the December 5 Precision & Brilliance: Prestigious Jewels & Watches from an Important Private Collection sale. It was an auction record for an orangy-pink diamond, according to Sotheby’s.

The auction was one of five that concluded the inaugural Sotheby’s Collectors’ Week in Abu Dhabi, where cars, real estate, handbags, watches and jewels went under the hammer.

Among the other notable items in the Precision & Brilliance sale was a complete set of four Patek Philippe Star Caliber 2000 double-dialed clock watches — one each in yellow gold, white gold, pink gold, and platinum. That lot achieved $11.9 million in total, within the presale price range, while a Rolex Daytona Albino wristwatch from circa 1971 sold for $952,500, just short of its upper estimate.

Here are the rest of the top five jewelry lots:

Image: The Desert Rose diamond. (Sotheby’s)