A 14.6 carat pear-shaped diamond pendant fetched a remarkable £468,000 (US$711,000) against a pre-sale estimate of £200,000 - 300,000 (US$300,000-US$450,000) at Bonhams, New Bond Street on 21 April as part of its first Fine Jewellery sale of the year.

Bonhams reports fierce bidding in the sale which achieved an overall sale total of £2.2 million (US$3.34 million) from 135 lots.

Two brilliant-cut diamond single-stone rings weighing 5.01 carats and 4.74 carats exceeded their pre-sales estimates, selling for £222,000 (US$337,000) each.

"We are delighted with the results which demonstrate that the market for diamonds of exceptional quality is undiminished. The result for lot 135 rivals some of the highest prices ever paid for a very light pink diamond over 10.00 carats at auction,” says Jean Ghika, Director of Bonhams UK Jewellery Department, which experienced its most successful year ever in 2009.