Sotheby's Sets Record For Fancy Yellow Diamonds

Auctioneers Sotheby's set two new world records last week at its Magnificent and Noble Jewels Sale in Geneva, Diamond World reports: the highest price paid for a fancy yellow diamond - $2.9 million – and the highest per-carat price paid for a fancy yellow diamond – approximately $39,000. The stone in question, a 74.53-carat cushion-shaped SI1 clarity polished diamond, used to belong to the Persian Shah Ahmed Qajar.

Other standout sales at the Geneva auction of over 600 lots, which netted $78.2 million in total sales, included jewelry that used to belong to famed Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida. Among the $4.9 million worth of Lollobrigida's jewelry sold at auction was a pair of natural pearl and diamond earrings. The $2.37 million paid for the earrings carved out another auction record, eclipsing the Bulgari pearl and diamond earrings owned by American actresss Elizabeth Taylor, which were purchased for $1.98 million two years ago, according to IDEX Online.
The most expensive single item to sell at the auction was a 28.9-carat D-color cushion-modified brilliant cut internally flawless diamond ring, which netted $4.4 million.