Christie's Jewels: The New York Sale will feature the Annenberg Diamond, a square emerald-cut diamond of 32.01-carat, D color, flawless rock. The diamond was used to create a ring bearing two pear-shaped diamonds, of 1.5 carats and 1.61 carats, respectively. The jewellery piece was designed by David Webb as part of the Leonore Annenberg collection.

The auction house describes the diamond as one amongst the finest, with the best in the four C’s and bearing the recognition of the Annenberg name. It has estimated the value between $3 million to $5 million and will showcase the diamond across Geneva, London, Hong Kong and Los Angeles. Christie's will arrange a viewing of the entire sale at its Christie's Rockefeller Center Galleries from October 16 to 20. The auction is slated on October 21, 2009.

Despite the sluggish economy, Christie's is optimistic of receiving a good response for its auction, as it has for its international salesrooms during 2009. In the first six months of 2009, the global sales at Christie’s amounted to $104 million, including 16 jewellery lots having sold for over $1 million price mark.