Rare pink diamond fetches $57.7 million at Hong Kong auction, setting a world record

HONG KONG — A pink diamond sold for $57.7 million in Hong Kong on Friday, setting a world record for the highest price per carat for a diamond sold at auction.

The 11.15-carat Williamson Pink Star diamond put up for auction by Sotheby’s Hong Kong has sold for HK$392 million (US$57.7 million). It was originally valued at $21 million.

The Williamson Pink Star takes its name from two iconic pink diamonds. The first is the 23.60-carat Williamson diamond given to the late Queen Elizabeth II as a wedding gift in 1947, while the second is the 59.60-carat Pink Star diamond which was sold at auction in 2017 for a record price of Was sold for $71.2 million.

The Williamson Pink Star is the second largest pink diamond to appear at auction. Pink diamonds are among the rarest and most valuable colored diamonds.

“This is an amazing result that demonstrates the resilience of top diamonds in a shaky economy,” said Tobias Kormind, Managing Director of 77 Diamonds.

“Hard assets like world-class diamonds have historically proven their worth even in times of instability,” he said. “Some of the world’s highest quality diamonds have seen their prices double in the last 10 years.”