A rare blue-green diamond known as Ocean Dream, believed to be the largest of its kind ever recorded, has been sold for more than US$17 million (RM67.9 million), according to auction house Christie’s.
The 5.5-carat gemstone, discovered in a mine in Central Africa during the 1990s, was previously recognised by the Smithsonian Institution as one of the eight rarest diamonds in the world.
Christie’s Head of Jewellery, Max Fawcett, said green diamonds are already considered exceptionally rare, especially those exceeding one carat in size.
“It is extremely rare to find green diamonds, especially those weighing more than one carat,” he said.
The vivid blue-green diamond features a triangular shape and is roughly the size of a fingernail on a little finger, according to Fawcett.
Ocean Dream was sold for US$17.3 million (RM67.9 million), setting a new auction record for a blue-green diamond.
Fawcett revealed that Christie’s had previously sold the gemstone in 2014 for US$8.5 million (RM33.3 million) to a private collector from Asia.
“He wore it,” Fawcett said.
The auction reportedly saw a bidding war involving three clients before the anonymous buyer secured the historic gem.
