Christie’s New York sale on Wednesday, October 20, totalled $52.5 million, with a new world record price per carat set for a blue diamond at auction.

In a statement, Christie’s said 90% was sold by lot, and 95% by value. The top lot was ‘The BVLGARI Blue’, a two-stone ring featuring a rare Fancy Vivid Blue diamond of 10.95 carats. The ring sold $1.4 million per carat.

“A world record price was achieved on October 20 for The BVLGARI Blue, a much-celebrated stone that came up for sale at Christie’s for the first time in almost 40 years, “ said Rahul Kadakia, Head of Jewelry for Christie’s Americas.

The stone had been purchased at the BVLGARI boutique in Rome in 1972 for just $1 million, the equivalent of about $5 million today, Christie’s said.

Kadaika: “With a sold price of $15.7 million, the stone tripled its value in that time, demonstrating the incredible resilience of diamonds in today’s volatile economic environment and the true, lasting value of fine jewelry.”



The Christie's auction also sold a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll, wearing a genuine pink diamond choker designed by Stefano Canturi. The Barbie went for $302,500 – making it the most expensive Barbie doll ever sold. Proceeds went to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.