The Rock: Largest White Diamond Ever Auctioned at Christie’s Sells for $21.9 Million
In March, Christie’s announced the Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale featuring the largest white diamond to ever be put up for auction. The diamond is called “The Rock” and is a 228.31-carat pear-shaped diamond that lead the Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale on 11 May 2022 as part of Christie’s Luxury Week. This exceptionally rare natural diamond was recovered and polished in South Africa over two decades ago and sold for $21.9 million.
The Rock: The Largest White Diamond in History
Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s International Head of Jewellery: “The Rock will join the very best of legendary gemstones which have passed through Christie’s global salerooms since 1766. The market for diamonds is particularly vibrant and we are confident that this sensational gemstone will capture the attention of collectors across the globe this spring season.
The Rock was Graded by the Gemological Institute of America as G color, VS1 clarity, The Rock is also accompanied by a letter from the GIA stating that it is the largest existing D-Z color pear-shaped diamond ever graded by the laboratory.
To put this monumental diamond in perspective, the size of the previous auction record for the largest white diamond was a 163.41-carat gem, which was sold at Christie’s Geneva in November 2017 for US$ 33,701,000. Even among diamonds that have ever been discovered and not appeared at auction, The Rock will take its place in the top ten largest white diamonds to exist. It will share that honor with the largest cut white diamond that exists, The Cullinan I, that sits on the Queen’s separator in the British crown jewels.
“The Rock” was revealed at Christie’s Dubai from 26 to 29 March, before touring to Taipei and Rockefeller Plaza in New York from 29 April to 1 May. This exceptional diamond was then on display to the public during Christie’s Luxury Week at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva from 6 to 11 May.
