100.20 CARAT DIAMOND TO BE AUCTIONED IN NEW YORK ON 21 APRIL 2015 FOR UP TO RM 90 MILLION! BUT I WILL NOT BE SURPRISED IF IT FETCHES RM 150 MILLION AS AN OVAL, 118.28 CARAT DIAMOND SOLD FOR US$ 30.6 MILLION LAST YEAR AND ITS QUALITY IS NOT AS PERFECT AS THIS ONE!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM
       
THE ULTIMATE EMERALD-CUT DIAMOND  
Sotheby’s Unveils a 100-Carat Perfect Diamond Unlike Any Offered Before 

HIGHLIGHTING THE APRIL AUCTION OF MAGNIFICENT JEWELS IN NEW YORK  

NEW YORK, 13 February 2015 – Today Sotheby’s unveils a diamond unlike any offered before: an extraordinary 100-carat perfect diamond in a classic Emerald-cut. 

The remarkable 100.20-carat, D color, Internally Flawless, Type IIa stone will highlight Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on 21 April 2015, when it is estimated to sell for US$19-25 million. 

At this impressive scale, diamonds of this exceptional quality – D color and Internally Flawless clarity – are incredibly rare, 
and are considered ‘perfect’. 

The present example joins an elite group of just five comparable-quality diamonds over 100 
carats that have ever been sold at auction worldwide*.  

What distinguishes the present example within this rarefied league is its beautiful shape: it is the largest perfect diamond with a classic Emerald-cut ever to be offered at auction. This 
modern shape gives the stone an unforgettable presence, whether it is worn as a jewel or admired on its own.  

The original rough – weighing over 200 carats – was mined by De Beers in southern Africa. The 
current owner spent over one year studying, cutting and polishing the rough diamond to deliver the spectacular stone. 

The diamond will be exhibited in Dubai, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, London and Doha, before returning to New York for exhibition beginning 17 April**.     
      
Gary Schuler, Head of Sotheby’s Jewelry Department in New York, commented: “This 100.20 carat diamond is the definition of perfection. The color is whiter than white, it is free of any internal imperfections, and so transparent that I can only compare it to a pool of icy water. 

"It is the first true emerald-cut diamond over 100 carats to be offered at auction – the most classic of cuts, quietly elegant and very contemporary.”  

Lisa Hubbard, Chairman of North & South America for Sotheby’s International Jewelry Division, said: “The rarest object of natural beauty on the market right now, this 100-carat diamond could be considered the ultimate acquisition. 

"Simply put, it has everything you could ever want from a diamond: the classic shape begs to be worn, while the quality puts it in an asset class of its own. The stone gives you so many options – admire it un-mounted, wear it as a simple but stunning pendant, or mount in a designed jewel.”  

Since 1990, when Sotheby’s sold the first 100-carat perfect diamond at auction, until the most recent example in 2013, the price per carat for these stones has increased from $125,000 to $260,000. The present stone’s low estimate of $19 million represents a valuation of $190,000 per carat.  

*100+ CARAT PERFECT DIAMONDS SOLD AT AUCTION  
‘The Mouawad Splendour’ 101.84 carats Modified Pear-shape, D color, Internally Flawless Sold for US$12.7 million / US$125,295 per carat Sotheby’s Geneva, 1990
  
‘The Star of Happiness’ 100.36 carats Rectangular modified brilliant-cut, D color, Internally Flawless Sold for US$11.9 million / US$118,397 per carat Sotheby’s Geneva, 1993
  
‘The Star of the Season’ 100.10 carats Pear-shape, D color, Internally Flawless Sold for US$16.5 million / US$165,322 per carat Sotheby’s Geneva, 1995  

‘The Winston Legacy’ 101.73 carats Pear-shape, D color, Flawless Sold for US$26.7 million / US$262,830 per carat Christie’s Geneva, 2013  

Spectacular Oval Diamond 118.28 carats Oval Brilliant-cut, D color, Flawless Sold for US$30.6 million / US$258,708 per carat **World auction record price for a white diamond**

 Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2013  
**EXHIBITION CALENDAR  
Dubai 16–18 March  
Los Angeles 29 March  
Hong Kong 2–5 April  
London 8–12 April  
Doha 14–15 April  
New York 17–21 April  
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Sotheby’s has been uniting collectors with world-class works of art since 1744. Sotheby’s became the first international auction house when it expanded from London to New York (1955), the first to conduct sales in Hong Kong (1973), India (1992) and France (2001), and the first international fine art auction house in China (2012). 

Today, Sotheby’s presents auctions in 10 different salesrooms, including New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris, and Sotheby’s BidNow program allows visitors to view all auctions live online and place bids from anywhere in the world. 

Sotheby’s offers collectors the resources of Sotheby’s Financial Services, the world’s only full-service art financing company, as well as private sale opportunities in more than 70 categories, including S|2, the gallery arm of Sotheby's Contemporary Art department, and two retail businesses, Sotheby’s Diamonds and Sotheby’s Wine. 

Sotheby’s has a global network of 90 offices in 40 countries and is the oldest company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (BID). 

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium and prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.   Images are available upon request  All catalogues are available online at www.sothebys.com or through Sotheby’s Catalogue iPad App. #  #  #