A DIAMOND RING | Christie's

Golconda! What a name to utter in the world of diamonds! The word itself conjures up images of fabulous riches and wealth, bejewelled princes and horses, turbaned traders and covered oriental bazaars. But it is the dazzling diamonds for which the city is most renowned, having yielded some of history's greatest stones including the Agra, the Hope and the Koh-i-Noor. Located in the southern princely state of Hyderabad, the Indian diamond fields are scattered throughout a broad belt of ancient rocks extending nearly one thousand miles in the north-south direction along the eastern half of the country. The vast majority of the diamonds found were from alluvial deposits uncovered in five distinct districts, each separated by high terrain. Each district had its own name, the most famous being Golconda. The celebrated French gem-merchant, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, who frequented India on numerous visits in the 17th century described Golconda diamonds as "pools of crystal water", a reference to the clear transparency and soft luminescent quality that is particular to these rarities. The Golconda mines were depleted by the mid eighteenth-century and diamonds of this famed provenance and distinction are seldom encountered today.

A DIAMOND RING

Price realised HKD 18,020,000

Estimate

HKD 15,500,000 – HKD 25,000,000

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A DIAMOND RING

Price realised HKD 18,020,000

Closed: 31 May 2011

Price realised HKD 18,020,000

Closed: 31 May 2011

Details Lot essay More from

A DIAMOND RING
Set with a brilliant-cut diamond weighing 11.25 carats, mounted in platinum, ring size 5¾

Accompanied by report no. 2125472378 dated 9 August 2010 from the Gemological Institute of America stating that the 11.25 carat diamond is D colour, internally flawless clarity; also accompanied by a supplemental letter from the Gemological Institute of America stating the 11.25 carat diamond has been determined to be a type IIa. Type IIa diamonds are the most chemically pure type of diamond and often have exceptional optical transparency. Type IIa diamonds were first identified as originating from India (particularly from the Golconda region) but have since been recovered in all major diamond-producing regions of the world. Among famous gem diamonds, the 530.20 carat Cullinan and the 105.60 carat Koh-i-noor, are examples of Type IIa

Also accompanied by report no. 1009244 dated 4 October 2010 from the Gübelin Gemmological Laboratory stating that the 11.25 carat diamond is D colour, internally flawless clarity; also accompanied by a note and appendix stating that based on its infrared spectrum, the 11.25 carat diamond is classified as a Type IIa. Additionally this 11.25 carat diamond possesses an antique cutting style which is rarely encountered in the gem trade today. It displays a colour and degree of transparency which are particular to the unique gemstones of Type IIa. Diamonds of this type, exhibiting an antique cutting style as well as a fine quality, are very rare and will most certainly evoke references to the historic term of 'Golconda'

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Ellen Mok

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