Pink diamond makes €17m

Hong Kong: A 14.23 carat pink diamond sold at a Hong Kong auction for HK$179.9 million (€17 million), the most expensive in Asia.

The rectangular-cut gem, called The Perfect Pink because of its clarity and colour, was the highest-priced lot at London-based Christie’s International’s sale of more than 300 pieces of jewellery, jade and gems. In 244 years of auctions, only 18 pink diamonds of more than 10 carats (2 grams) have come up for sale, Christie’s said.

The auction, which also included a HK$27.5m Nirav Modi necklace with a 12.25 carat Golconda pear-shaped diamond, totalled HK$612.6m, the largest jewellery sale held in Asia and the London-based auction company’s biggest worldwide, according to Christie’s. The sale’s jewellery staff all sported something pink in their attire for the event.