(14 Apr 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
New York – 11 April 2025
1. Various, the blue diamond being taken out of a display case
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rahul Kadakia, International Head of Jewelry, Christie’s: ++COVERED++
“This is the Golconda Blue Diamond, which will be offered for sale at Christie’s in Geneva on May 14th. It’s the most important blue diamond that’s ever come up for sale at auction. It used to belong to the Maharaja of Indore.”
3. Various, blue diamond in display case
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rahul Kadakia, International Head of Jewelry, Christie’s: ++COVERED++
“So it’s coming up for sale for the first time. It’s a 23-carat Golconda Vivid Blue Diamond, estimated between $35 and $50 million.”
5. Various, blue diamond in display case
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rahul Kadakia, International Head of Jewelry, Christie’s: ++PARTALLY COVERED++
“What’s unique is that the stone has not changed in over 100 years. The weight has remained the same, 23.24 carats. And it’s not changed shape. It’s not changed weight. It’s not changed size. And so that already is quite special. The fact that it belonged to such an important and noble provenance makes it that much more special for the new owner to own a part of history.”
7. Rack focus to reveal blue diamond
8 SOUNDBITE (English) Rahul Kadakia, International Head of Jewelry, Christie’s: ++PARTALLY COVERED++
“Because it comes from the Golconda Mines, which is a mine in south-central India, which produced some of the most famous diamonds in the world, including the Hope Diamond, which is at the Smithsonian, including the Kohinoor, which is in the Queen Mother’s Crown, and this diamond now that we have for sale at Christie’s.”
9. Diamond being placed on a hand
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rahul Kadakia, International Head of Jewelry, Christie’s: ++PARTALLY COVERED++
“I think it’s going to set a brand-new record for a blue diamond or any colored diamond at auction because it’s irreplaceable. There are blue diamonds in the market, and they’re all rare, but to have a blue diamond with this noble provenance with a Golconda origin, it’s not going to happen again.”
11. Diamond being held
STORYLINE:
A rare and historic Golconda vivid blue diamond weighing in at over 23-carats is set to be auctioned at Christie’s.
The gem was once owned by the Maharaja of Indore.
It is "the most important blue diamond that’s ever come up for sale at auction," according to Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s International Head of Jewelry.
The diamond’s origin adds to its lore. It was discovered at the legendary Golconda mines in south-central India, known for producing some of the world’s most famous diamonds, including the Hope Diamond.
“What’s unique is that the stone has not changed in over 100 years,” Kadakia said. “The weight has remained the same, 23.24 carats. And it’s not changed shape, weight or size.”
The fact that it belonged to the Maharaja of Indore makes the blue diamond “that much more special” Kadakia said.
The Golconda Blue is being sold as part of Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva on May 14th.
“There are blue diamonds in the market, and they’re all rare, but to have a blue diamond with this noble provenance, with a Golconda origin — it’s not going to happen again.”
The sale is expected to set a record. Estimates run between $35 to $50 million.
AP video shot by Joseph B. Frederick
===========================================================
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/15cda397c0b9426bb23568e5e0923754
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in April 19, 2025, 3:04 pm.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
