An impressive 31.62-carat diamond – described as the largest fancy blue diamond to appear at auction – is the star of Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale in New York, which achieved a total of US$59 million. 

The pear-shaped modified brilliant-cut diamond, mounted in a platinum and rose gold pendant with pink diamond accents, sold for US$11.8 million, well within the US$10 million to US$15 million pre-sale estimate.

Other highlights of the December 6 auction include a platinum and white gold necklace with an 86.64-carat pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamond centre stone and 78 pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamonds of 2.50 to 0.50 carats, which fetched US$5.7 million; and a brooch in 18-karat white and yellow gold adorned with a 107.46-carat fancy yellow diamond centre gem with white diamond accents by Graff, which was snapped up for US$2.6 million.
  
The sale offered an expansive range of fancy colour diamonds in an array of hues, white diamonds, and richly saturated coloured gemstones. It also featured estates and private collections and signed jewels by Bulgari, Cartier, David Webb, Dreicer & Co, Fabergé, Georges Fouquet, Graff, Harry Winston, Janesich, Oscar Heyman & Brothers, Piaget, Raymond Yard, Tiffany & Co, Paulding Farnham, and Van Cleef & Arpels.