This past year, we have seen an amazing turnout of blue diamonds at auction. An oval-cut 3.81-carat fancy intense blue diamond recently sold at a Bonhams auction for $3 million, accounting for nearly a third of the total revenue. This impressive sum translates into a staggering $792,450 per carat. The diamond’s I1 clarity and the fact that it is one of the 0.004 percent of mined diamonds that are blue constitute the reasons for this stone’s steep price tag.

This sale is just another proof of just how relevant color diamonds still are, and how blue diamonds are gaining major popularity at the world's biggest auction houses.

Sold for a formal price back in September, the blue diamond had an estimate of $1.7 million to $2.4 million and ended up selling for over half a million dollars more. The unique stone is part of a British collection and is set in a claw setting.

Many other magnificent pieces sold at this sale as well, including a pair of 19th century Kashmir sapphire earrings. They were acquired for approximately $1.1 million despite the initial $520,000 to $780,000 estimate. This makes these earrings the second most important lot of the sale.

19th century Kashmir sapphire earrings

In terms of colorless diamonds, there were plenty of monumental items, from the 11-carat marquise-cut D-color VS1-clarity type IIa diamond that sold for $802,052 to the brilliant-cut 13.77-carat I-color VVS2-clarity Roca diamond ring, which managed to sell for nearly $400,000.

To date, the distinguished Bonhams holds two impressive records for “highest price per carat.” These records go to a fancy blue diamond, which sold for $1.77 million a carat and a fancy grayish-blue diamond that brought in $730,000 a carat.

Have a look at our collection of remarkable natural blue diamonds!

Blue Diamond Sells for $3 Million at Bonhams Sale