A picture taken in Geneva on September 23, 2022 shows the Fortune Pink, an exceptionally rare giant gemstone, that is expected to bring in up to $35 million when it will comes up for sale in Geneva on November 8, 2022 by Christie鈥檚 auction house. 鈥� At over 18 carats, the vividly coloured gem is the largest pear-shaped pink diamond of its quality ever to be offered for sale at auction. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
GENEVA, Switzerland 鈥斅燭he Fortune Pink, an exceptionally rare giant gemstone, will be auctioned in Geneva in November when it is expected to go for up to $35 million (36 million euros), auctioneers said Monday.
At over 18 carats, the vividly colored gem is the largest pear-shaped pink diamond of its quality ever to be offered for sale at auction, the Christie鈥檚 auction house said.
The diamond, which goes under the hammer for the first time on November 8, has been estimated at between $25 million and $35 million.
The sparkling pink tear-drop-formed stone, which has been mounted on a ring flanked by a large white diamond on either side, weighs exactly 18.18 carats.
Christie鈥檚 highlighted that this was considered a lucky number in Asia, where it signifies 鈥渄efinite prosperity,鈥� saying it expected the diamond to 鈥済arner interest from collectors across the globe.鈥�
鈥淲eighing in at an auspicious 18.18 carats鈥� the weight in fact brings luck to the new owner,鈥� Angela Berden, Christie鈥檚 senior jewellery specialist, told AFP.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a beautiful stone, it鈥檚 extremely rare to find a pink diamond, vivid pink diamond, of this size,鈥� she said.
鈥淭he color saturation of this stone is鈥� so difficult to find in nature, and then when you find a crystal鈥� with that weight, with that color, and a very good clarity, that鈥檚 just really rare.鈥�
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 know where to find another one at this moment.鈥�
While the Fortune Pink is the largest vivid pink pear-shaped diamond to go to auction, larger cushion-shaped pink diamonds have previously gone under the hammer.
In 2018, Christie鈥檚 sold the 18.96-carat Winston Pink Legacy, which raked in over $50 million 鈥� the highest per-carat price ever paid for a stone of its kind.
The giant Raj Pink diamond, weighing a full 37.3 carats, meanwhile, failed to sell at a Sotheby鈥檚 auction a year earlier, where it had been estimated at up to $30 million.