“The Spirit of the Rose” Sells for US$ 26.6m (CHF 24.4m) at Sotheby’s in Geneva - A World Auction Record for a Purple-Pink Diamond -

At 14.83-carats, the diamond is the world’s largest vivid purple-pink diamond ever to appear at auction

Geneva, 11 November 2020 – Moments ago, at Sotheby’s Geneva, The Spirit of the Rose, the world’s largest vivid purple-pink diamond ever to appear at auction, sold for US$ 26,633,253 (CHF 24,393,000) - a world auction record for a purple-pink diamond. Mined and cut by ALROSA – one of the world’s leading diamond producers, the 14.83-carat Fancy Vivid Purple-Pink Internally Flawless diamond was bought by an anonymous buyer, bidding over the phone. Named after a celebrated Russian ballet, the ultra-rare gem was faceted from the largest pink crystal ever mined in Russia.

The sale of The Spirit of the Rose concluded a day of extraordinary live auctions. While the sale series continues tomorrow with our online auctions, the live auctions have already realised US$ 52.2 million (CHF 47.8m)

Commenting on the sale of The Spirit of the Rose, Benoit Repellin, Head of Sotheby’s Geneva ‘Magnificent Jewels’ auction, said: “The Spirit of the Rose caught the imagination of everyone who had the chance to see it. With its size, beautiful colour, perfect cut and oval shape, it is a wonder of nature, steeped in Russia’s century-long diamond tradition and cultural heritage. It fully deserves the price achieved tonight, which is also testament to the growing appreciation, and awareness of the great scarcity of pink diamonds around the world. With the supply of these beautiful stones becoming ever more limited, these gems are likely to continue to become even more prized.”

Please find attached a press release, including more details on the diamonds and highlights sold today.