DAZZLING PINK DIAMOND EXPECTED TO SELL FOR R360M

A DAZZLING pink diamond, described as one of the world’s purest, could fetch more than $21 million (R360m) when it goes under the hammer in Hong Kong in October, auction house Sotheby’s said on Wednesday.

At 11.15 carats, the cushion-shaped gem is called “Williamson Pink Star”, in tribute to two other pink diamonds.

One is the “CTF Pink Star”, a 59.60-carat oval mixed-cut diamond which sold for a record $71.2m at auction in 2017.

The other is the “Williamson” stone – a 23.60 carat diamond given to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth as a wedding gift by Canadian geologist John Thorburn Williamson. Worn by the monarch in a Cartier brooch, it was discovered in his mine in Tanzania.The “Williamson Pink Star” also originates from that mine.

“(Pink diamonds) are exceptionally rare in nature...,” said Kristian Spofforth, Sotheby’s head of jewellery. Ahead of the auction, the diamond will go on tour to Dubai, Singapore and Taipei before arriving in Hong Kong. |