A blue diamond weighing 11.16 carats sold for $25.2 million on Tuesday, becoming the most valuable jewel at this year’s Geneva auctions, according to Sotheby’s.
The Bulgari Laguna Blu, a pear-shaped, fancy-vivid-blue stone, surpassed its $25 million high presale estimate after a four-minute bidding battle between several buyers, Sotheby’s noted. It was the lead item in the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale, which realized $85.4 million — Sotheby’s highest total for that auction in five years.
“The sale of the Laguna Blu tops the remarkable performance of our Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale that saw exceptional colored gemstones, in particular emeralds and yellow diamonds, punch through their high estimates,” said Olivier Wagner, head of jewelry for Sotheby’s Geneva.
These are the other lots rounding out the top 10:
Main image: The Bulgari Laguna Blu diamond. (Sotheby’s)