Most expensive diamond-world record set by
The Wittelsbach Diamond
LONDON, England -- The 17th century Wittelsbach
diamond, known as "Der Blaue Wittelsbacher," weighing
35.56 carats, was sold at Christie's auction house for 16.4
million pounds (24.3 million dollars, 18.7 million euros)-setting
the world record for the Most
expensive diamond.
Photo:"It is a great honour and
a lifetime dream to handle a museum-quality stone such as
the Wittelsbach," said Francois Curiel, international
head of jewellery at Christie's. (enlarge
photo)
Known as "Der Blaue Wittelsbacher," the gem
was bought by King Philippe IV of Spain in 1664 and given
in a dowry when his daughter Margaret Theresa married Leopold
I of Austria.
It subsequently entered the Austrian and then
Bavarian Crown jewels, although it has been in a private collection
since 1964.
"The appearance of a large blue diamond, among
the rarest of all colours, with a history that can be traced
back to the 17th century and 300 years of royal connections
(is) a thrilling occasion," he added.
Graff
Diamonds purchased the Wittelsbach Diamond, a cushion-shaped,
deep grayish-blue 35.56 carat VS2 stone, for an average price
of $683,667 per carat.
François Curiel, chairman of Christie's Europe
and the sale's auctioneer, wrote in a statement: "At
$24.3 million, the 35.56-carat Wittelsbach blue diamond, dating
to the seventeenth century, has become
the most expensive diamond sold at auction, topping the
previous record of $16.5 million for a 100-carat diamond in
1995 in Geneva.
It was purchased by the leading international
jeweler Laurence
Graff, bidding against Aleks Paul of Essex Global
Trading, a professional of Russian origin based in New York.”
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Wednesday, December 10, 2008
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