A 303.10-carat fancy deep brownish-yellow diamond, aptly named Golden Canary, was the highlight of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale in New York, which generated total auction revenues of US$50 million.

The Golden Canary sold for US$12.4 million, becoming the third most valuable yellow diamond ever sold at auction. It also ranks as the world’s largest known internally flawless diamond and is distinguished as the largest flawless or internally flawless diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America. 

Other notable diamonds were a 25.03-carat D-colour emerald-cut internally flawless diamond that fetched US$2.3 million; a 10.67-carat emerald-cut diamond by Hemmerle that sold for US$1.1 million; and a 3.69-carat unmounted fancy grey-blue cushion brilliant-cut diamond that was snapped up for of US$1 million.

A 5.27-carat Colombian emerald ring salvaged from the legendary Atocha shipwreck of 1622, meanwhile, soared over 17 times its pre-sale high estimate, fetching US$1.2 million. A total of 18 bids, by phone and online, were placed over the course of five minutes. The coveted emerald was from the collection of author and distinguished philanthropist Mitzi Perdue, who was gifted the gem upon her engagement in 1988 by her late husband Frank Perdue. The emerald’s proceeds will go toward humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, a cause that Mitzi supports.

Catharine Becket, head of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels Sales in New York, said the result was a great finale to a phenomenal year of jewellery at the auction house. The latest New York sale brought its running-total of global jewellery sales to over US$450 million – a five-year high for Sotheby's.