De Beers diamond sold for US$58m

tHE De Beers’ Cullinan blue diamond has been auctioned for HK$450,9 million (US$57,5 million) at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong. The 15,1 carat, fancy vivid blue diamond was sold on Wednesday evening to an unnamed buyer. The step-cut gem, recovered from the Cullinan mine in South Africa, is the largest vivid blue diamond ever to appear at an auction. Bidders had pushed the price to HK$390 million (US$49,7 million), while auction premiums added the rest. records have been broken repeatedly in recent years for fancy coloured diamonds, which are rarer than colourless ones. Coloured diamonds come in many hues, but pink and blue are the most coveted.