5ct. Pink Sets Record at Bonhams

RAPAPORT... Bonhams has sold a pink diamond for $583,551 per carat, aworld-record price for its color category, the company reported. The 5.03-carat, fancy-pink VS1 garnered $2.9 million at theauction house's Fine Jewellery sale in London last week. The previous recordfor a fancy-pink diamond was $528,021 per carat for a stone sold at Sotheby'sin 2016. "Large pink diamonds are continuing to increase in valueyear on year," said Emily Barber, director of jewelry at Bonhams UK. "They arehighly desirable to discerning collectors given their rarity and limitedsupply." The stone's value lies in its even color saturation, cut andsize, Barber added. It is exceptionally rare to see pink diamonds over fivecarats on the market, she explained. Other notable items at the auction included a three-stonering featuring an old-brilliant-cut, 0.95-carat, fancy-blue diamond surroundedby two marquise-cut, fancy-yellow-orange diamonds weighing 0.51 and 0.56carats. The piece sold for GBP 168,750 ($218,750), well over its originalestimate of GBP 80,000 to GBP 120,000 ($103,704 to $155,556). Two tiaras also exceeded expectations. A Belle ??poquediamond headpiece designed by Spanish royal jeweler Ansorena in the classicalGreek meander style achieved GBP 162,500 ($210,650) against a presale estimateof GBP 80,000 to GBP 120,000, while a Hennell Art Deco tiara went for GBP81,250 ($105,320), beating its valuation of GBP 40,000 to GBP 60,000 ($51,850 to $77,780). In all, Bonhams sold 89% of the lots available at theauction, bringing in total proceeds of GBP 6.9 million ($9 million). The next Bonhams Fine Jewellery sale will take place in HongKong on November 25. Image: The 5ct. fancy-pink diamond. (Bonhams)