Yellow Diamond Graff Ring Sells for $16,347,847 at Auction

Yellow Diamond Graff Ring Sells for $16,347,847 at Auction

Adrienne Faurote
By Adrienne Faurote May 14, 2014

The Graff Vivid Yellow
Hot on the heels of Monday’s news of the sale of a rare Patek Philippe that sold for $1,340,804 at a Christie’s auction, comes news of another record-breaking sale. Yesterday in Geneva, Sotheby’s auctioned off the ‘Graff Vivid Yellow’ US$16,347,847.

The sale of this ring, which features a cushion-shaped Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond, set not one, but two world records: a world auction record for a yellow diamond, and a world auction record for a jewel by Graff. With a total weight of 100.09 carats, this piece sold for $163,331 per carat according to Sotheby’s calculations.

David Bennett, Chairman of Sotheby’s Switzerland and Chairman of the Jewellery Department for Europe and the Middle East, commented: “100 carats is a magical number when it comes to diamonds. With its exceptional size and a superb daffodil colour, the Graff Vivid Yellow is a truly extraordinary diamond with immense presence. These rare qualities led to the record price achieved tonight. Throughout the day, we witnessed intense bidding from all corners of the globe…”

In total, sales from Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels & Noble Jewels auction totaled $141,492,079.

Photo courtesy Sotheby’s.