'Blue Moon' diamond sets new world record

Baku. 12 November. REPORT.AZ/ As its title suggests, the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale at Sotheby’s Geneva is a treasure trove of gems and unique jewels that are a feast for the eyes. I have chosen a few highlights that represent the diversity of the sale, Report informs referring to the foreign media.

The Blue Moon diamond sold for $48.5 million (£31.7 million) - a new world recordThis magnificent 12.03-carat Internally Flawless, Fancy Vivid Blue diamond, dubbed the Blue Moon, has gained a lot of attention. The cushion brilliant-cut diamond is an amazing, intense blue colour with no hint of grey which is normally the case with blue diamonds. After seeing the Blue Moon I visited the Smithsonian Natural History Museum where the most famous blue diamond in the world resides: the Hope blue diamond.

Having made a mental note of the colour of the Blue Moon, I compared the two diamonds. Although they are very similar, the Hope has a much darker blue undertone while the Blue Moon is more vibrant with an even saturation. They can be seen as freaks of nature, created when boron is mixed with carbon during the gem’s formation deep within the earth’s crust. And contrary to what may be perceived, blue diamonds are extremely rare, as only 0.1 per cent of diamonds show any evidence of blue colour. The Hope crystal was discovered in January 2014 in the famous Cullinan Mine in South Africa now owned by Petra Diamonds, weighing 29.62 carats. It took over six months to cut and polish, a nerve-racking job as there is no room for error.