The largest fancy blue diamond ever to go to auction sold on Tuesday for more than $44 million, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate, Christie’s auction house said.
The “Bleu Royal” — a ring featuring a 17.61-carat pear-shaped vivid blue diamond — was one of the standout lots to go under the hammer at the auction house for Luxury Week in Geneva.
Christie’s had estimated that the price of the ring would fetch about $35 million.
The auction house said the sale made “Blue Royal” the most expensive gem sold at auction this year.
Christie’s said the gemstone will be handed over to another private collection for the first time in 40 years.
