Rare blue diamond smashes auction records in Asia

Zahra Jamshed, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 8:07 AM EDT, Tue April 5, 2016
The "Aurora Green" is the largest Fancy Vivid green diamond ever sold at auction. The stone went under the hammer on May 31, 2016 at Christie's auction house in Hong Kong, selling for $16,818,983.
The "Aurora Green" is the largest Fancy Vivid green diamond ever sold at auction. The stone went under the hammer on May 31, 2016 at Christie's auction house in Hong Kong, selling for $16,818,983.
courtesy christies
The world's largest blue diamond, an extremely rare gem known as "The Oppenheimer Blue", sold for $57.5 million at Christie's Geneva May 18, 2016, making it the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction.
The world's largest blue diamond, an extremely rare gem known as "The Oppenheimer Blue", sold for $57.5 million at Christie's Geneva May 18, 2016, making it the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction.
Christies Images Ltd 2016
The 14.62 carat Fancy Vivid stone is mounted on a platinum ring and flanked on either side by a trapeze-shaped diamond.
The 14.62 carat Fancy Vivid stone is mounted on a platinum ring and flanked on either side by a trapeze-shaped diamond.
Christies Images Ltd 2016
'The Unique Pink' is the largest Fancy Vivid pink pear-shaped diamond to ever be offered at auction.
'The Unique Pink' is the largest Fancy Vivid pink pear-shaped diamond to ever be offered at auction.
courtesy sotheby's
The diamond was sold for $31.6 million by Sotheby's, at an auction in Geneva. The price makes it the most expensive Fancy Vivid pink diamond to sell at auction.<br />
The diamond was sold for $31.6 million by Sotheby's, at an auction in Geneva. The price makes it the most expensive Fancy Vivid pink diamond to sell at auction.
courtesy sotheby's
Cubic zirconia replicas of the original and a modern cut of the Kohinoor diamond, one of the oldest and most famous diamonds in the world.<br />
Cubic zirconia replicas of the original and a modern cut of the Kohinoor diamond, one of the oldest and most famous diamonds in the world.
Bloomberg/Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The De Beers Millennium Jewel 4 has broken auction records in Asia.
The De Beers Millennium Jewel 4 has broken auction records in Asia.
CNN
The stone sold for $31.8 million, which makes it the most expensive piece of jewelry sold at an auction in Asia.
The stone sold for $31.8 million, which makes it the most expensive piece of jewelry sold at an auction in Asia.
courtesy sotheby's
Sotheby's <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/20/entertainment/shirley-temple-ring-auction-sothebys/">auctioned</a> this 9.54 carat ring it says belonged to child star Shirley Temple on April 19, 2016. Though it was expected to fetch between $25 million and $35 million, it failed to sell.
Sotheby's auctioned this 9.54 carat ring it says belonged to child star Shirley Temple on April 19, 2016. Though it was expected to fetch between $25 million and $35 million, it failed to sell.
Sotheby's
This 12.03-carat blue diamond fetched $48.4 million at auction on November 11, 2015. It was previously the world's most expensive price-per-carat diamond sold.
This 12.03-carat blue diamond fetched $48.4 million at auction on November 11, 2015. It was previously the world's most expensive price-per-carat diamond sold.
FABRICE COFFRINI/Getty Images
The fancy, vivid blue diamond was discovered in South Africa in January last year.
The fancy, vivid blue diamond was discovered in South Africa in January last year.
FABRICE COFFRINI/Getty Images
In recent years, other high-value diamonds have hit the auction block. The 59.60-carat oval cut pink diamond known as "The Pink Star," went for $80 million at a 2013 Sotheby's auction. However, after the buyer defaulted on payment, it was returned to Sotheby's.
In recent years, other high-value diamonds have hit the auction block. The 59.60-carat oval cut pink diamond known as "The Pink Star," went for $80 million at a 2013 Sotheby's auction. However, after the buyer defaulted on payment, it was returned to Sotheby's.
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images
This 118.28 oval white diamond became the largest sold at auction when it went for $30.6 million at a Sotheby's auction in 2013.
This 118.28 oval white diamond became the largest sold at auction when it went for $30.6 million at a Sotheby's auction in 2013.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
In April 2015, a 100-carat, emerald cut, D color, internally flawless diamond -- the largest of its clarity and cut to ever be shown at auction -- <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/21/world/sothebys-flawless-diamond/">sold for $22 million.</a>
In April 2015, a 100-carat, emerald cut, D color, internally flawless diamond -- the largest of its clarity and cut to ever be shown at auction -- sold for $22 million.
Courtesy Sotheby's
The 76.02-carat 400-year-old Archduke Joseph diamond set a new record for price per carat for a colorless diamond in 2012, when it sold for $21.5 million at a Christie's auction.
The 76.02-carat 400-year-old Archduke Joseph diamond set a new record for price per carat for a colorless diamond in 2012, when it sold for $21.5 million at a Christie's auction.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
In 2010, Hong Kong's largest jewelry retailer, Chow Tai Fook, bought <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/03/luxury/gallery/11000-diamonds-wallace-chan/">one of the world's largest rough diamonds</a> for $35.3 million.
In 2010, Hong Kong's largest jewelry retailer, Chow Tai Fook, bought one of the world's largest rough diamonds for $35.3 million.
Courtesy Chow Tai Fook
Jeweler Wallace Chan and a team of craftsman worked 47,000 hours to transform the stone it <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/03/luxury/gallery/11000-diamonds-wallace-chan/">into this piece</a>, which Chai Tai Fook estimates could be worth $200 million.
Jeweler Wallace Chan and a team of craftsman worked 47,000 hours to transform the stone it into this piece, which Chai Tai Fook estimates could be worth $200 million.
Courtesy Chow Tai Fook
A look at some of the world's most famous diamonds

Story highlights

A rare blue diamond has been auctioned in Hong Kong

The 10.10 carat gem sold for $31.8 million

It is the most expensive gemstone to be sold at auction in Asia

CNN  — 

A rare blue diamond has gone up for sale and smashed auction records in Asia.

The 10.10 carat rock, named the De Beers Millennium Jewel 4, is the largest oval-shaped, fancy vivid blue diamond to ever appear at auction world.

Billed by Sotheby’s as “yet another wonderful collecting opportunity for connoisseurs worldwide”, it has sold for $31.8 million – which makes it the most expensive gemstone to be sold at an auction in Asia.

Blue Moon

Blue diamonds are considered to be one of the rarest of gems, making up just a small percentage of all diamonds harvested worldwide.

Billionaire buys world's most expensive diamond

rare blue diamond
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Rare blue diamond smashes Asia auction records
01:44 - Source: CNN

But while this blue beauty has broken all records for sales of the gem in Asia, its value still falls short of the world’s most expensive diamond.

That title went to the 12.03 carat “Blue Moon” diamond, sold in Geneva, Switzerland, to a Hong Kong billionaire for his seven-year-old daughter in November 2015 for $48.4million.

Magnificent jewels

The ‘De Beers Millennium Jewel 4’ went on auction as part of a 270 lot ‘Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite’, sale by auction house Sotheby’s on April 5 in Hong Kong.

MO:12 Carat Diamond Ring Lost and Found in 8 Tons of garbage **This package/segment contains third party material. Unless otherwise noted, this material may only be used within this package/segment. Usage must cease on all platforms (including digital) within ten days of its initial delivery or such shorter time as designated by CNN. CLARKSON VALLEY, MO (KTVI) It was the case of missing wedding rings, two rings lost in 8 tons of trash. One of them with a 12 and a half carat diamond and the Squitieri's of Clarkson Valley had to get dirty, stinky and lucky to get them back. It started in the Squitieri family kitchen Sunday afternoon. Sunday night her husband was cleaning up around the sink and early Monday morning the Meridian Waste truck picked up the garbage. Carla Squitieri`s rings were mixed in with the garbage of more than 900 customers. After a few prayers and phone calls the Squitieri`s realized her rings were in the garbage. Minutes before they hit the landfill, Meridian diverted their truck to a transfer station and the dig was on. Joe Evans of Meridian Waste ended up finding the rings. The rings are insured, but it's the sentimental value that had the Squitieri's digging through rotted food and dirty diapers. Meridian workers know all about that and say they'd do this for anybody.
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12-carat diamond rings lost in 8 tons of trash
01:43 - Source: KTVI

The auction included some of the world’s rarest colored diamonds.

It currently holds an estimated combined value of over $96 million.

April could be a busy month for blue diamond sales, with a blue diamond ring once owned by Shirley Temple also up for auction by Sotheby’s just a few days later in the U.S.