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| Blue diamond fetches record price | Blue diamond fetches record price |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A rare blue diamond has sold for a record 10.5 million Swiss francs ($9.5m; £6.2m) at auction in Geneva. | A rare blue diamond has sold for a record 10.5 million Swiss francs ($9.5m; £6.2m) at auction in Geneva. |
| It weighs 7.03 carats, is smaller than a penny piece, and is one of only a handful of blue diamonds in existence. | It weighs 7.03 carats, is smaller than a penny piece, and is one of only a handful of blue diamonds in existence. |
| The anonymous phone bidder has yet to name the gem, mounted on a platinum ring, auctioneers Sotheby's said. | The anonymous phone bidder has yet to name the gem, mounted on a platinum ring, auctioneers Sotheby's said. |
| The diamond was found in Cullinan mine in South Africa last year, and its clarity was graded as flawless - the highest designation. | The diamond was found in Cullinan mine in South Africa last year, and its clarity was graded as flawless - the highest designation. |
| Auctioneer David Bennett said: "It is a new world record price for a blue diamond." | Auctioneer David Bennett said: "It is a new world record price for a blue diamond." |
| It had a pre-sale catalogue estimate of 6.8 million to 10 million francs, excluding commission. | It had a pre-sale catalogue estimate of 6.8 million to 10 million francs, excluding commission. |
| 'Beyond beautiful' | |
| The hammer price excluding commission was 9.3 million francs. | The hammer price excluding commission was 9.3 million francs. |
| The scarcity of the gems is in part down to the fact so few places in the world mine for blue diamonds. | The scarcity of the gems is in part down to the fact so few places in the world mine for blue diamonds. |
| Mr Bennett said: "For people who are looking to buy something that nobody else has, or somebody who wants something that is beyond beautiful, a blue diamond is going to be very difficult to find, so when they appear on the market, you have to have a go." | |
| The stones get their colour when the chemical boron is present during formation. | The stones get their colour when the chemical boron is present during formation. |
| In May 2008 a 3.73 carat diamond was sold by Sotheby's at auction for nearly $5m (£3.4m) setting the world record price per carat for any gemstone at auction. | In May 2008 a 3.73 carat diamond was sold by Sotheby's at auction for nearly $5m (£3.4m) setting the world record price per carat for any gemstone at auction. |