THE PRINCIE DIAMOND | Christie's

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THE PRINCIE DIAMOND

細節

THE PRINCIE DIAMOND
An historic cushion-cut fancy intense pink diamond, weighing approximately 34.65 carats
With report 5111433470 dated 25 November 2009 from the Gemological Institute of America stating that the diamond is fancy intense pink, natural color, VS2 clarity

Accompanied by a supplemental letter from the Gemological Institute of America stating that the diamond has been determined to be a Type IIa diamond. 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

Accompanied by a hardbound monograph from the Gemological Institute of America, featuring additional photography, data collection charts and gemological research, attesting to the rarity and prestige of the Princie diamond

注意事項

On occasion, Christie's has a direct financial interest in the outcome of the sale of certain lots consigned for sale. This will usually be where it has guaranteed to the Seller that whatever the outcome of the auction, the Seller will receive a minimum sale price for the work. This is known as a minimum price guarantee. Where Christie's has provided a Minimum Price Guarantee it is at risk of making a loss, which can be significant, if the lot fails to sell. Christie's therefore sometimes chooses to share that risk with a third party. In such cases the third party agrees prior to the auction to place an irrevocable written bid on the lot. The third party is therefore committed to bidding on the lot and, even if there are no other bids, buying the lot at the level of the written bid unless there are any higher bids. In doing so, the third party takes on all or part of the risk of the lot not being sold. If the lot is not sold, the third party may incur a loss. The third party will be remunerated in exchange for accepting this risk based on a fixed fee if the third party is the successful bidder or on the final hammer price in the event that the third party is not the successful bidder. The third party may also bid for the lot above the written bid. Where it does so, and is the successful bidder, the fixed fee for taking on the guarantee risk may be netted against the final purchase price.

Third party guarantors are required by us to disclose to anyone they are advising their financial interest in any lots they are guaranteeing. However, for the avoidance of any doubt, if you are advised by or bidding through an agent on a lot identified as being subject to a third party guarantee you should always ask your agent to confirm whether or not he or she has a financial interest in relation to the lot.

榮譽呈獻

Rahul Kadakia

rkadakia@christies.com Tel: +1 212 636 2300

拍品專文

Prospective bidders for the Princie diamond are requested to please contact the Jewelry Department no later than 24 hours prior to the auction.

The Princie diamond traces its noble lineage to the Nizams of Hyderabad, rulers of the south central state in India through which the fabled Golconda mines ran and then through the famous house of Van Cleef & Arpels. Christened by Pierre Arpels in 1960 at a party in Paris honoring the young Prince of Baroda, the Princie has remained absolutely untouched since it was mined over 300 years ago. The most beautiful stones discovered in Golconda were always reserved for kings and rulers as they represented the highest power, which was then magically transferred to the owner. It was a widely regarded belief that God's gift to India became India's gift to mankind and the Princie is undoubtedly one of the greatest gifts of Golconda.

First introduced to the world at a Sotheby's auction in 1960 as a spectacular pink cushion-cut diamond, being offered as "The Property of a Gentleman" who was none other than the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Princie was purchased by the London branch of Van Cleef & Arpels for a very significant 46,000 English pounds. It was subsequently sent to their Paris store, where a christening party was held in its honor. Many dignitaries graced the event and the guests of honor were Sita Devi, Maharanee of Baroda and her fourteen-year old son Sayajirao Gaekwad, affectionately known as "Princie." Sita Devi was a beautiful young woman referred to as "The Indian Wallis Simpson" and was known for her lavish lifestyle and passion for jewels. She received jewelry from the Baroda Treasury which included the famous Star of the South Diamond, the English Dresden and the Baroda pearl necklace which was later sold at Christie's New York for a world-record price in 2007.

A defining characteristic of the Princie diamond is its bright orange fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. According to the Gemological Institute of America, the Princie diamond's unique reaction to ultraviolet radiation has been attributed to diamonds of known Indian origin and therefore indicates that the Princie diamond is a classic "Golconda type" pink diamond. Of more than 7 million diamonds that have gone through the Gemological Institute of America's laboratory, no more than 40 of them exhibited orangey-red fluorescence or phosphorescence. Of these, the Princie is the largest pink diamond that possesses this outstanding phenomenon.

The Princie is at this time the largest Golconda-type fancy intense pink diamond ever to be graded at the Gemological Institute of America and the mystery of its extraordinary history gives it an inestimable allure, rendering it truly a priceless treasure from the Kings of Golconda.