Sotheby’s is talking about their 100ct diamond, estimated in the $19-25m range, as an asset class all its own. Mined by DeBeers in southern Africa, the stone was 200cts rough and the firm spent a year having it polished and cut. According to Lisa Hubbard:

“The rarest object of natural beauty on the market right now, this 100-carat diamond could be considered the ultimate acquisition. Simply put, it has everything you could ever want from a diamond: the classic shape begs to be worn, while the quality puts it in an asset class of its own.”

Just to give you a sense of what a big deal this is, there have only been five other “perfect” 100ct diamonds auctioned before. As you can see from the list, the prices have been moving steadily upward:

• ‘The Mouawad Splendour’ 101.84 carats Modified Pear-shape, D color, Internally Flawless Sold for US$12.7 million / US$125,295 per carat Sotheby’s Geneva, 1990
• ‘The Star of Happiness’ 100.36 carats Rectangular modified brilliant-cut, D color, Internally Flawless Sold for US$11.9 million / US$118,397 per carat Sotheby’s Geneva, 1993
• ‘The Star of the Season’ 100.10 carats Pear-shape, D color, Internally Flawless Sold for US$16.5 million / US$165,322 per carat Sotheby’s Geneva, 1995
• ‘The Winston Legacy’ 101.73 carats Pear-shape, D color, Flawless Sold for US$26.7 million / US$262,830 per carat Christie’s Geneva, 2013
• Spectacular Oval Diamond 118.28 carats Oval Brilliant-cut, D color, Flawless Sold for US$30.6 million / US$258,708 per carat

100C Emerald-Cut – Magnificent Jewels – NY, 21 April 2015