A rare blue diamond weighing nearly 10 carats has been sold for 20.5 million Swiss francs ($26.6 million) at a Christie’s auction in Geneva.
The 9.51-carat gem, known as the “Mellon Blue”, was named after late American arts patron Rachel “Bunny” Mellon. The diamond had been expected to fetch between $20 million and $30 million, and its final sale price — including buyer’s premium and fees — came within that range.
Christie’s said the stone was part of Mellon’s private collection for decades and had previously been sold in 2014 for $32.6 million, one of the highest prices ever paid for a colored diamond at auction.
Max Fawcett, Christie’s global head of jewelry, described the Mellon Blue as “the gem of gems,” praising its Fancy Vivid Blue color grade and Internally Flawless quality certified by the Gemological Institute of America.
The auction marks the first of two major jewelry sales in Geneva this week. On Wednesday, rival house Sotheby’s will auction the “Glowing Rose” pink diamond, expected to attract bids of around $20 million.