Diamantaire Ehud Laniado Dies at 65

RAPAPORT... Israeli-Belgian diamantaire Ehud Laniado died Saturday at65, following a heart attack during surgery at a Paris clinic, local media reported. Laniado, the founder of Mercury Diamond, a diamond-pricing consultancy firm, was undergoing an electiveprocedure, according to French magazine Le Point. Emergencypersonnel were unable to revive him. The industry veteran began his career as a polished-price forecaster in Africa inhis early 20s, according to his personal website. He also served asthe chairman of several international diamond businesses, and developedproprietary computerized valuation systems for rough and polishedstones. In 2015, as the chairman of Cora International, Laniado soldthe Blue Moon of Josephine, a 12.03-carat, fancy-vivid blue diamond. That piece fetched $4.1million per carat at Sotheby's, making it one of the most expensive diamonds sold at auction. Image: Ehud Laniado. (Mercury Diamond)