Sotheby’s Gives Desert Rose $7M Price Tag in Abu Dhabi Auction

Sotheby’s will offer the rare Desert Rose diamond at an upcoming auction in Abu Dhabi, where it’s expected to rake in $7 million.

The unmounted pear-shaped, 31.68-carat, VVS1-clarity stone is the largest fancy-vivid-orangy-pink diamond in the world, Sotheby’s said Tuesday. The Desert Rose is one of the headline pieces at the December 5 Precision & Brilliance: Prestigious Jewels & Watches from an Important Private Collection sale, part of the auction house’s inaugural Collectors’ Week event in the Emirati capital.

Among the more than 40 lots on offer are a Tiffany & Co. sapphire and diamond ring with a high estimate of $550,000, a Boucheron emerald ring with a top presale estimate of $500,000, and an emerald and diamond Cartier ring with a price tag of $250,000 to $350,000.

Collectors’ Week — a collaboration between Sotheby’s and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office — features auctions, exhibitions, private sales, and a special program of talks and master classes with guest speakers. The five auctions taking place on December 5 will include more than $1 billion worth of luxury goods, including jewelry, handbags, cars and real estate.

“Our aim is not only to present world-class treasures at auction, but also to build lasting connections with collectors in the region through talks, master classes and a museum-quality exhibition of artworks from around the world,” said Josh Pullan, global head of the Sotheby’s luxury division. “Abu Dhabi’s rapidly expanding cultural landscape — driven by a young and growing collector base and supported by ambitious long-term development plans — is fostering a vibrant art and luxury community. This momentum aligns perfectly with [our] vision, and we’re thrilled to begin our next chapter of expansion with Abu Dhabi at its heart.”

Sotheby’s debuted an exhibition in Abu Dhabi in April — its first event there since 2009 — featuring rare diamonds worth more than $100 million in total.

Other items making their auction debut at Collectors’ Week include 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 — carrying a high estimate of $20 million. Another top piece is a Rolex Daytona Albino wristwatch from circa 1971, which has a $1 million upper estimate.

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