- Title: SWITZERLAND: FLAWLESS DIAMOND EXPECTED TO FETCH 15 MILLION SWISS FRANCS
- Date: 4th May 1995
- Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (MAY 4, 1995) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. SCU SOTHEBY'S POSTER SHOWING DIAMOND 0.04 2. SV EXTERIOR HOTEL BELLEVUE 0.12 3. SV MODEL SHOWING DIAMOND 0.15 4. CU DIAMOND 0.19 5. SCU DAVID BENNETT, DIRECTOR OF SOTHEBY'S JEWELLERY FOR EUROPE, SPEAKING (ENGLISH) 1.27 SEQUENCE 5 transcript: BENNETT :"THE STONE IS TRULY ONE OF THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL IN THE WORLD; IT WEIGHS 100 CARATS; AND THAT WHAT MAKES IT PERFECT IS ITS COLOUR AND FLAWLESSNESS. WE PUT A RESERVE ON IN EXCESS OF 13 MILLION (UNITED STATES) DOLLARS AND THE BUYER WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO NAME IT" Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 19th May 1995 13:00
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- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- City:
- Country: Switzerland
- Reuters ID: LVA2F9S6FKX8ZYXD8HFPECF1PCPQ
- Story Text: A flawless, pear-shaped 100.1 carat diamond is expected to fetch a world record price of 15 million swiss francs (13 million United States dollars) at auction this month, Sotheby's said on Thursday (May 4).
Wealthy collectors in Saudi Arabia and the Far East probably will dominate bidding when the shimmering jewel is put on the block for the first time ever in Geneva on May 17.
"This is truly one of the exceptional and rare diamonds in the world," said David Bennett, director of Sotheby's jewellery and precious objects department for Europe.
He said the stone is pear-shaped and flawless.
"What makes it extremely rare is that it is colour D -- perfectly white, the highest grading -- and it is totally internally flawless," he said.
Bennett believes the stone originates from central or southern Africa. He would not reveal the current owner's identity or country of residence.
Nor would he reveal the reserve price agreed by the owner and auction house below which it cannot be sold.
Because the stone is new and has not been worn, the buyer will have the right to name it, he said. It was cut five years ago from a diamond weighing about 300 carats, according to Bennett. It will probably be made into a pendant, he said.
Only two other pure and perfect 100 carat diamonds have ever been sold at auction -- both since 1990 in Geneva, which has edged out New York as the world centre for major gem sales.
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