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Spring Auctions Showcase Part 3: Flawless Diamonds are Making an Appearance
With auction season in full swing, we’ve reviewed several highlights of the season, Spring Auctions: Fancy Colors and Spring Auctions: Fancy Shapes. Rare as they are, flawless diamonds are also making an appearance. GIA’s clarity grading system is comprised of eleven clarity grades, Flawless being the highest grade.
Flawless diamonds are so rare that some jewelers may never even come into contact with a diamond of such clarity. Because of the rarity of these stones, it’s worth noting that on May 15, 2013, Christie’s Geneva will auction off a 101.73-carat pear-shape, D-Flawless diamond. It is the largest D-Flawless diamond ever put up for sale as well as one of the largest pear shapes known to exist. The estimated value for the stone is $20 million to $30 million, which, if sold in this price range, could set a new record for an auctioned flawless diamond.
GIA quality analysis: 101.73-carat pear-shape, D-Flawless
101.73-carat pear-shape, D-Flawless diamond. Image courtesy of Christie’s Images LTD. 2013.
In April, earlier this year, Sotheby’s Hong Kong set a world record for a round brilliant D-to-Z color diamond. It auctioned a GIA graded 28.86-carat D-Flawless diamond for $6,939,467, bringing the per carat price to over $239,352. The piece sold well over its auction estimate of $4,900,000 to $5,800,000.
GIA quality analysis: 28.86-carat round brilliant, D-Flawless , Excellent Cut
Unmounted 28.86-carat brilliant-cut flawless diamond. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s.
There are other standout gems from auctions in prior years that reflect the rarity and value of Flawless diamonds:
The D-color, 33.19-carat Elizabeth Taylor Diamond set in a ring was worn virtually daily by the star and sold for $8.8 million by Christie’s New York in December 2011. It was formerly known as the Krupp Diamond. But the auction price record holder in the D-Flawless category remains the historical 76.02-carat cushion-cut Archduke Joseph Diamond, which sold for a staggering $21.5 million in November 2012 by Christie’s Geneva.
Are you interested in learning more about what makes up a diamond’s clarity? Check out the “Introduction to Diamond Clarity: What are Inclusions and Blemishes” or visit “GIA Diamond Grading Scales: The Universal Measure of Quality” for a better understanding about how the quality of a diamond is graded.