A 103.49-carat D-colour flawless Type IIA diamond, named The Light of Africa, is headlining Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction scheduled for June 8 in New York. 

The emerald-cut diamond was forged from a 299.3-carat rough unearthed from the legendary Cullinan diamond mine, which has produced some of the most historic and sensational diamonds, including the Great Star of Africa and the Second Star of Africa – both part of the British Crown Jewels set in the Sovereign’s Sceptre and the Imperial State Crown.

Described as having “excellent polish and symmetry,” the Light of Africa is expected to sell for US$11 million to US$18 million.

The New York auction will also feature jewels from private collections alongside signed jewels by Bhagat, Boucheron, Bulgari, Cartier, David Webb, Graff, Harry Winston, Raymond Templier, Tiffany & Co, and Van Cleef & Arpels. 

Other highlights include Twelve Jewels by JAR from the Estate of Ann Getty and jewellery from The Ann & Gordon Getty Collection. “Ann Getty’s striking group of jewels by JAR is one of the largest and most important private collections of works by the visionary designer, Joel Arthur Rosenthal, to appear at auction,” noted Christie’s.