Bulgari Pink, a 24-carat pink diamond, sold at Christie's Geneva for 12.1 million CHF
The 24-carat Bulgari Pink fetched 12.1 million Swiss francs at Christie's; the gem was privately owned since the 1950s and is likely from Golconda.
A rare pink gemstone known as the "Bulgari Pink," weighing 24 carats, sold at Christie's auction in Geneva for 12.1 million Swiss francs (about 13.1 million euros). The sale price fell inside the pre-auction estimate, which had placed the piece between 10 and 15 million Swiss francs.
The diamond had remained in private hands for roughly 70 years. The sellers' family reportedly purchased it in India in the 1950s and later took it to Bulgari's workshop in Rome.
Origins and classification
The gemstone is believed to have been mined at the Golconda deposit in southern India, a source of some of the world's most famous stones, including the Koh-i-Noor and the Hope Diamond. The lot was described by Christie's as "the Mona Lisa among pink diamonds," a phrase used to highlight its exceptional clarity and transparency.
According to the auction house, the Bulgari Pink is classified as a diamond of type Ila — a category that accounts for less than two percent of gem-quality diamonds.
The sale at Christie's Geneva attracted collectors and specialists interested in rare colored stones; the final hammer price — 12.1 million Swiss francs — was confirmed during the evening session of the sale.
Experts note that Golconda-origin stones and high-clarity Type Ila diamonds remain among the most coveted by connoisseurs and museums, which helps explain the strong interest in the Bulgari Pink at auction.
Photo: press material from the event
