Sotheby’s To Auction $70 Million De Beers Exceptional Blue Collection

Sotheby’s is offering a group of eight rare fancy blue diamonds, the De Beers Exceptional Blue Collection, for sale across its Magnificent Jewels auctions this year in New York, Geneva, and Hong Kong and throughout the Spring of 2023.

Sourced and assembled by De Beers and crafted by Diacore, the De Beers Exceptional Blue Collection comes to the market with a combined total value in excess of $70 million.

In November 2020, De Beers and Diacore jointly purchased five rare blue rough diamonds from the legendary Cullinan mine that weighed a total of 85.62 carats. Over a period of nearly two years, Diacore meticulously cut and polished the five roughs – ranging from 9.61 to 25.75 carats.

Quig Bruning, Head of Sotheby’s Jewels, Americas, said: ‘Sotheby’s boasts a stellar record of selling some of the most coveted important fancy blue diamonds in auction history. Nearly six months after we set a new benchmark for one of the highest prices achieved for a blue diamond at auction with the $57.5 million sale of the De Beers Blue, we are honoured to be entrusted with this superb collection of Fancy Blue diamonds. Also recovered from the historic Cullinan mine in South Africa, the De Beers Exceptional Blues are a true testament of our world’s most extraordinary treasures and what is yet to be discovered.”

Wenhao Yu, Chairman of Jewellery and Watches at Sotheby’s Asia, added: “The discovery of a gem-quality blue diamond of any size is a rare occurrence, so to have the opportunity to offer not one, but eight dazzling blues in a range of shapes and weights, is therefore truly exceptional. We are absolutely delighted that De Beers and Diacore have entrusted us with a collection of such rarity and beauty that most of us will not see replicated again.”

The collection consists of eight blue diamonds of various shapes and weights totalling 32.09 carats, ranging in size from a 1.22-carat oval brilliant-cut to a 11.29-carat step-cut diamond.

“I have remained in awe of The De Beers Exceptional Blue Collection since the first moment I set eyes on it,” said Olivier Wagner, Head of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels Auctions in Geneva. “The market for coloured diamonds and precious gemstones has never been stronger, so we are absolutely thrilled to be offering the first diamond of this superb collection as one of the star highlights of our Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction next month in Geneva. This important gem will, I am sure, captivate all collectors of exceptional gemstones.”

Three of these exceptional diamonds will be offered this year: De Beers Exceptional Blue 5.53 (est. $11-15 million) will be one of the star highlights of Sotheby’s Magnificent and Nobles Jewels auction in Geneva on 9th November, while the De Beers Exceptional Blue 3.24 (est. $5-8 million) and De Beers Exceptional Blue 2.08 (est. $1.2-1.5 million) will be offered at the 7th December auction in New York.

The De Beers Exceptional Blue Collection was sourced from the Cullinan mine.