A stunning 10.3-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, named The Mediterranean Blue, sold for an impressive $21.5 million at Sotheby’s High Jewelry auction in Geneva, becoming one of the most talked-about sales of the season.
Originally discovered in 2023 at South Africa’s legendary Cullinan mine, the gem was cut from a 31.94-carat rough diamond. Its transformation into a cushion modified brilliant-cut masterpiece took a full year of study and six painstaking months of cutting and polishing—testament to the precision behind high jewellery craftsmanship.
The Mediterranean Blue’s journey to the auction block was as dazzling as the gem itself. It first made headlines during Sotheby’s inaugural Abu Dhabi exhibition, kicking off a global tour that showcased the diamond alongside seven other ultra-rare jewels collectively worth over $100 million. The exhibition captivated collectors across the Middle East, Asia, and the United States, building momentum ahead of the Geneva sale.
“This is truly a defining gem of the season,” remarked Quig Bruning, Head of Jewelry for the Americas & EMEA at Sotheby’s. “The response it received throughout its global showcase, and the final result today, speak volumes about the heightened demand for rare, ultra-fine diamonds. Collectors are clearly gravitating toward quality and rarity.”
The Geneva auction, held at the Mandarin Oriental, featured 93 exquisite lots and closed with a total of 42 million Swiss francs (approx. $50 million). The event recorded a stellar 99% sell-through rate by value and 97% by lot count, underlining continued strength in the high-end jewellery market.
The Mediterranean Blue now joins the elite ranks of history’s most coveted blue diamonds—an enduring symbol of rarity, luxury, and the art of the possible.
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