Pink diamond sells for over US$32m in Hong Kong
[HONG KONG] An enormous oval diamond named the "Pink Promise" was sold Tuesday for an eye-watering US$32.16 million at auction in Hong Kong.
The 14.93-carat pink gemstone went to an unidentified phone bidder as applause filled the room.
Auctioneers Christie's said it was the second highest price per carat paid for a pink diamond, next to the five-carat "Vivid Pink" which sold in Hong Kong for US$10.78 million in 2009.
However, the diamond failed to sell at the higher end of the auction house's estimates of up to US$42 million.
"It's a very, very strong price," François Curiel, Christie's Europe and Asia chairman, told AFP after the sale.
"It really shows that Hong Kong is a very important centre for jewellery today." An ongoing anti-corruption drive in mainland China has done little to dent feverish bidding in Hong Kong's auction houses.
A 1,000-year-old bowl from China's Song Dynasty was sold for US$37.7 million in the city last month, breaking the record for Chinese ceramics.
Earlier this year a giant diamond named the "Pink Star" broke the world record for a gemstone sold at auction when it fetched US$71.2 million at Sotheby's.
AFP
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Lifestyle
Former Zouk morphs into mod-Asian Jiak Kim House, serving laksa pasta and mushroom bak kut teh
Massimo Bottura lends star power to pizza and pasta at Torno Subito
Victor Liong pairs Aussie and Asian food with mixed results at Artyzen’s Quenino restaurant
If Jay Chou likes Ju Xing’s zi char, you might too
Mod-Sin cooking izakaya style at Focal
What the fish? Diving for flavour at Fysh – Aussie chef Josh Niland’s Singapore debut