Christie’s Could Cash In When $12M Pure Pink Diamond Hits Auction Block

A 10.20-carat pink diamond, thought to be the most important of its cut and color to be offered in 12 years, is expected to realize up to $12 million at an upcoming jewelry sale at Christie’s in New York. 

The round brilliant-cut, fancy-intense-pink, internally flawless diamond will headline the June 11 Magnificent Jewels auction, Christie’s said Tuesday. The jewel, named the Eden Rose after the symbol of unconditional love, is the most “significant” of its kind since Christie’s Hong Kong sold the 12.04-carat Martian Pink in 2012, the auction house noted. 

Atypical of natural pink diamonds, the Eden Rose exhibits a pure pink hue, with no secondary color such as the purple, orange or grey hues most display, Christie’s explained. 

“Given its rarity, we are anticipating significant interest from around the world,” said Rahul Kadakia, international head of jewelry for Christie’s. “Twelve years ago, collectors were captivated by the Martian Pink. That stone surpassed its estimate to achieve a record price of $17 million, equating to $1.5 million per carat. The Eden Rose has never been offered at auction, and we are proud to be presenting a jewel of its unmatched caliber for the first time this June in New York.” 

Other fancy-intense-pink diamonds that have raked in high prices at Christie’s include the 14.23-carat Perfect Pink, which sold for $23.1 million in 2010, and a 9.07-carat stone that garnered $12.6 million in Hong Kong in 2015. 

The auction house will exhibit the Eden Rose in Hong Kong from May 24 to 27, before showing it at Christie’s at Rockefeller Center in New York during Luxury Week, which runs from June 7 to 10. 

Image: The Eden Rose diamond. (Christie’s)