A diamond expected to sell for $30 million (£22.8 million) is set to go to auction.
The 228.31ct white stone is the largest of its kind to ever be put up for auction, and comes with a $20-30 million (£15.2-22.8 million) estimate.
The Rock, as the stone is known, was mined and polished around 20 years ago in South Africa.
It is now going up for auction at Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale on 11 May 2022.
Graded by the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) as G colour, VS1 clarity, The Rock is also accompanied by a letter from the GIA stating that it is the largest existing D-Z colour pear-shaped diamond ever graded by the laboratory.
The previous auction record for the largest white diamond was a 163.41ct gem, which sold at Christie’s Geneva in November 2017 for $33.7 million (£25.6 million).
The Rock will be revealed at Christie’s Dubai from 26 to 29 March, before touring to Taipei and Rockefeller Plaza in New York from 29 April to 1 May.
This exceptional diamond will then be on display to the public during Christie’s Luxury Week at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva from 6 to 11 May.
Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s international head of jewellery, said: “The Rock will join the very best of legendary gemstones which have passed through Christie’s global salerooms since 1766.
“The market for diamonds is particularly vibrant and we are confident that this sensational gemstone will capture the attention of collectors across the globe this spring season.”
View Christie’s video of The Rock below:
