This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20315424
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
'Perfect' Archduke Joseph diamond sells for $21m | 'Perfect' Archduke Joseph diamond sells for $21m |
(about 11 hours later) | |
One of the world's most admired diamonds has been sold at auction for more than 20m Swiss francs ($21m;£13m). | One of the world's most admired diamonds has been sold at auction for more than 20m Swiss francs ($21m;£13m). |
The 76-carat Archduke Joseph diamond, described as internally flawless, comes from India's famous Golconda mines. | The 76-carat Archduke Joseph diamond, described as internally flawless, comes from India's famous Golconda mines. |
The diamond was sold to an anonymous bidder by the Christie's auction house in Geneva. | The diamond was sold to an anonymous bidder by the Christie's auction house in Geneva. |
The price was well above the $15m (£9m) pre-sale estimate, and was far in excess of the $6.5m (£4m) it reached when it was last sold in 1993. | The price was well above the $15m (£9m) pre-sale estimate, and was far in excess of the $6.5m (£4m) it reached when it was last sold in 1993. |
"It is a world record for a Golconda diamond and a world record price per carat for a colourless diamond," Francois Curiel, director of the international jewellery department at Christie's, told reporters. | "It is a world record for a Golconda diamond and a world record price per carat for a colourless diamond," Francois Curiel, director of the international jewellery department at Christie's, told reporters. |
"The market is not on the best form at the moment. The sale tonight was almost flabbergasting." | "The market is not on the best form at the moment. The sale tonight was almost flabbergasting." |
The diamond's seller, American jeweller Black, Starr & Frost, said they thought it would be "going to a museum", Reuters news agency reports. | The diamond's seller, American jeweller Black, Starr & Frost, said they thought it would be "going to a museum", Reuters news agency reports. |
Christie's specialist, Jean Marc Lunel, said the Archduke Joseph is prized because it boasts the highest quality of shape, colour and clarity that can be found in a diamond. | Christie's specialist, Jean Marc Lunel, said the Archduke Joseph is prized because it boasts the highest quality of shape, colour and clarity that can be found in a diamond. |
And it has an illustrious history. | And it has an illustrious history. |
The diamond came from the ancient Golconda mines, where the famous Koh-i-Noor and blue Hope Diamond originated. | The diamond came from the ancient Golconda mines, where the famous Koh-i-Noor and blue Hope Diamond originated. |
It was named after Archduke Joseph August of Austria, a prince of the Hungarian line of the Habsburgs, who reportedly deposited it in a bank vault in 1933. | |
"Three years later it was sold to a European banker, and kept in France, locked away in a safe deposit box, where fortunately it remained undiscovered during World War II," the auction house said. | |
Decades later it surfaced at auction in 1961 and again at Christie's in November 1993. | Decades later it surfaced at auction in 1961 and again at Christie's in November 1993. |
Previous version
1
Next version