A rare round blue diamond will go under the hammer in Hong Kong in October, with auctioneers hoping the sale will fetch a record-breaking US$19 million (HK$147 million) despite fears over the slowing Chinese economy.
Auction house Sotheby’s expect the 7.59-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, which is about the size of a shirt button, to set a new price-per-carat record.
Quek Chin Yeow, Sotheby Asia’s deputy chairman, said Hong Kong was the natural venue to sell the gem, known as “The Premier Blue”, with collectors expected to fly in from all over the world.
“While there is a slowdown (in Chinese economy), the number of top-level collectors are still there,” he said.
“We have been selling very well in Hong Kong.”
Hong Kong has become a centre for jewellery auctions thanks to growing wealth in China and other parts of the region, as well as the region’s increasing taste for art.