Geneva / Moscow – On 12 May Christie’s will proudly present the Spectacle, a 100.94 carat, D-colour Internally Flawless diamond, estimated at $12,000,000-18,000,000, as a highlight of the Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction.

THE SIZE

The diamond was cut from a rare 207.29 carat rough stone. The incredible size and impeccable quality made the rough diamond extremely unusual and valuable. It was unearthed in 2016 at Zarnitsa kimberlite pipe in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) in the northeast of Russia, the first-ever diamond deposit discovered in Soviet Russia in 1954.

THE BEST COLOUR

This exceptional diamond is graded D-colour, the very best grading available for a diamond.  

FLAWLESS CLARITY

In 1953 the first clarity scale by which diamonds would be graded was introduced. During the 1970s, the Internally Flawless grade was added. This grading gave diamond manufacturers a choice to leave traces of nature on the surface of the stone, and achieve a grade higher than VVS1.

THE CUT

The preparation and cutting process, which took one year and eight months, was performed at the “Diamonds of Alrosa” cutting factory in Moscow. The emerald shape was chosen as it presented the perfect geometry of the diamond. Emerald cut is incompatible with any imperfections, as it allows the observer to gaze endlessly into the clear, unobstructed depths of the gem. It requires the initial diamond to be perfect.

The 100.94 carats Spectacle diamond is the largest stone ever to have been cut in Russia.

RARITY

Over the past 10 years Christie’s has offered two other spectacular D-colour diamonds at auction, both in Geneva, during the house’s Magnificent Jewels sales.

THE WINSTON LEGACY                                    
101.73 carats                                                       
D colour / Flawless clarity                                     
Geneva 2013                                                       
Price realised $26,746,541                   

CREATION I
163.41 carats
D colour / Flawless clarity
Geneva 2017
Price realised $33,705,994              

“We are fascinated to present this long-awaited gem. A part of our The Spectacle Collection, bearing the same name, this exceptional 100.94-carat, colourless, emerald-cut diamond displays a breath-taking performance, which is a natural wonder revealed by human hand. Astonishing size, combined with impeccable colour and quality, characteristics and flawless provenance guarantees, make The Spectacle a unique occurrence,” commented Sergey Ivanov, CEO of ALROSA.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Public viewing | 1 and 2 May in Taipei and 8 to12 May in Geneva

Auction | Geneva 12 May at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues | 1204 Geneva