The “De Beers Millennium Jewel 4” was sold for $31.8 million at Sotheby’s.
The internally flawless, vivid blue 10.10-carat oval diamond was purchased by an anonymous person during an auction held in Hong Kong.
It was the highest price ever paid for a gem at auction in the Asian continent. The diamond was part of the Millennium Jewels Collection presented by De Beers in 2000 in London.
The “Millennium Jewel 4,” along with 11 other precious stones, was later stolen by a group of thieves who escaped through the River Thames on a speedboat. The criminals were caught, and the gem has finally been sold.
This blue diamond has been hailed for its rarity, extraordinary color, shape, and high quality. It was mined in South Africa.
“Rare and important jewels from Asian private collections lead the strength of the market with the De Beers Millennium Jewel 4, the fancy vivid orange diamond and the strand of natural pearls achieving exceptional prices,” noted Quek Chin Yeow, deputy chairman of Sotheby’s Asia.
