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It's worth $20-30 million, weighs 228 carats and is shaped like a teardrop.
– This is »The Rock«.
Rahul Kadakia, Head of Christie's Jewelry Division
'This really is one of the largest, no, the largest white diamond ever sold at auction. I've been here for 25 years. Christie's has been around for 256 years. In all this time this is the largest stone of this shade that we have for sale.«
The imposing gemstone was mined and cut in South Africa more than two decades ago.
Not only the size, but also its shape are extraordinary.
The diamond will be auctioned off on May 11th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Geneva.
Together with another stone that is for sale for the third time.
“It's quite unusual to have two 200-carat diamonds in one auction. The "The Red Cross" diamond weighs 205 carats, was also mined in South Africa in 1901 and sold at Christie's London Red Cross auction in 1918.«
It gets its yellow color from nitrogen atoms.
The estimated selling price is between seven and ten million dollars.
Portions of profits are donated to the International Red Cross.
Kadakia is optimistic about the auction.
“I think the current state of the stock market gives investors an opportunity to buy art and important diamonds to hedge against current developments and hope that the prices of rare art and objects will continue to rise, perhaps making them a sell at another time. Who knows? Maybe we'll see the stones again in 10 years.«