THE Rose of Dubai, a pear-shaped 25.02-carat fancy pink diamond fetched more than $6 million at Christies Magnificent Jewels auction this week. The diamond, "realized a staggering $240,000 per carat, with more than four potential buyers fiercely competing to acquire the magnificent gem," said Rahul Kadakia, head of jewellery for Christies Americas, in a press release. The gems winning bidder was Amer Radwan of Dubai. "Diamonds of all colours, whether white, blue or pink, sparkled in our sale," he said. The Rose was among a number of diamonds featured in the sale, where about 87% was sold by lot and 94% sold by value, totaling approximately $36 million. Also among the top items was a pear-shaped 33.11-carat D flawless diamond, which was sold to diamond jeweler Laurence Graff for $2.48 million, and an oval-cut 4.24-carat fancy vivid blue, IF diamond ring by Harry Winston, which went for $1.8 million to an anonymous buyer.
Diamonds werent the only top sellers, with a pair of antique emerald bangles circa 1900 fetching $1.13 million; a fluted emerald bead necklace going for $676,800; and a 100.7-carat cushion-cut Ceylon sapphire selling for $475,200. "There was intense bidding at every level, and a world record price of $262,400 was achieved for an opal and precious gem necklace by Louis Comfort, Tiffany," he added