This 15.10-carat gem is not only the largest vivid blue diamond ever to be presented at auction but also holds the distinction of being the largest internally flawless step-cut vivid blue diamond assessed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), as mentioned in Sotheby's press release.
Discovered in the Cullinan mine in South Africa in 2021, this exceptionally rare diamond has garnered top rankings based on industry standards for coloured diamonds. The GIA classified it as "fancy vivid blue," the highest possible colour grading, awarded to less than 1% of blue diamonds submitted to the organization. The diamond's outstanding polish and Type IIb classification, indicating a bluish-gray shade due to the presence of boron, further contribute to its rarity, with less than 0.5% of diamonds falling into this category.
Sotheby's Chairman of Asia, Patti Wong, expressed the rarity and desirability of the diamond, stating that it is "the rarest of the rare" and surpasses anything comparable seen at auction in recent years. Wong emphasized the diamond's significance as a masterpiece, created over hundreds of millions of years and enhanced by the craftsmanship of one of the world's most skilled cutters.
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