Price: $16 million
Carats: 108
This flawless white diamond is arguably the finest of its kind for sale anywhere in the world. What makes it extraordinary isn’t so much its heft--a generous 108 carats--as its nearly total absence of flaws.
For more information, visit www.sothebys.com.
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If you think diamonds are a girl's best friend, think again. The
majority of expensive stones are bought by men, who purchase them for
their personal collections.
"Marilyn Monroe had it all wrong,"
says Stanislas de Quercize, chief executive of jeweler Van Cleef &
Arpels, "especially when it comes to serious collectors. It’s an
obsession with obtaining that rare and somewhat mythical stone or that
exquisite piece. These collectors will stop at nothing to get it."
These
are anonymous private individuals who search for and acquire the
world’s most perfect stones, working quietly through diamond suppliers,
jewelry houses and auction houses, relying on phone calls and word of
mouth.
Their search takes them to the corners of the world--from the
Argyle mines in Western Australia, where rare pink and red diamonds are
auctioned off at the annual Pink Diamond Tender, to Christies and
Sotheby’s "Magnificent Jewels" auctions, held in different venues around
the world, from Hong Kong to Geneva. (The next takes place Feb. 20 in
St. Moritz.)
"Once in a while, a special stone comes up for
sale," says Sally Morrison, director and spokeswoman for the Diamond
Information Center, a public relations organization representing diamond
retailers. "Before it becomes publicly available, the jewelry house
handling it will contact a few big collectors privately, to give them
the first chance to buy."
Not on the short list? Don’t worry.
We’ve rounded up some of the world’s rarest and most costly diamonds.
All are publicly available now, at the prices quoted. No need to wait
for auction. Just come up with the necessary cash, and they can grace
your finger, neck or vault tomorrow.
What To Look For
When
it comes to picking out a one-of-a-kind diamond, especially one coveted
by collectors, clarity and color matter more than size.
"As a
collector, you want to look at rarity when seeking out a diamond,"
explains Morrison. This includes paying attention to how clear the stone
is, how free of flaws and how exceptional its color.
Pricey Pieces
Take the flawless white diamond
currently being offered by Sotheby’s Diamonds for $16 million. The
stone is relatively hefty, weighing 108 carats. But it's an absence of
flaws that makes it worth acquiring.
Want a little provenance
with your stone? Another diamond now for sale was once displayed at the
London Natural History Museum. This 70 carat white sparkler
is set at the center of a multicolored diamond necklace being offered
for $12 million by Robert Mouawad’s private collection. Mouawad is a
jeweler well-known in the Middle East for creating pieces for royals
such as the Sultan of Brunei and the Emperor of Japan.
Less costly but almost as spectacular is the $2.5 million Van Cleef & Arpels Drape de Diamantes necklace,
a deco piece designed in 1935 but not executed until 2006. Its two
emerald-cut white diamonds, 5.4 carats each, are set against 268
marquise-cut diamonds and 63 baguette diamonds, all mounted in white
gold.
Another get: A platinum-set 15 carat white diamond ring by Neil Lane boasts a celebrity connection: Madonna once wore it.
Colors Galore
But why limit yourself to white? "Red,
green, blue or purple really cause a stir, because they are so rare,"
says Sam Merksamer, executive director of the Natural Color Diamond
Association, an international trade organization dedicated to increasing
awareness of colored diamonds. "With the exception of yellows, colored
diamonds tend to be on the smaller side. But that doesn’t mean they
aren’t just as exquisite."
The Leviev fancy vivid yellow diamond
(77.12 carats) hangs from a strand of round brilliant cut white
diamonds totaling 72.58 carats (exclusive of the yellow). Price: $10
million.
And De Beers' "Kiss of the Rose" ring
($1.2 million) features a pear-shaped, rose-cut diamond so clear that
through it you can see the small .8 carat fancy intense pink diamond set
beneath, giving the larger stone a fiery glow. Surrounding these two
are 2.49 carats of white pave diamonds.
Like what you see? Be
warned: Even in our high-tech age, few serious collectors--be they men
or women--buy stones over the Internet. Expect to shop corporeally.
But might online buying someday become the norm?
"Never
say never," shrugs Gary Schuler, senior vice president and director of
jewelry at Sotheby’s in New York. For now, though, the risk of
purchasing a counterfeit online is still "too great."
