One of the world's rarest pink diamonds has sold for $14.6 million at a Christie's Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva.
Known as The Bulgari Pink, the gemstone weighs 24 carats, features an emerald cut and is prized for its vivid pink colour, exceptional clarity and aristocratic provenance.
Why the Bulgari Pink is so rare
Beyond its striking appearance, the diamond belongs to an elite category known as Type IIa diamonds, a classification that accounts for less than 2% of all natural diamonds worldwide.
According to Christie's, pink diamonds derive their colour from a rare distortion in their crystal structure caused by intense pressure during their formation deep within the Earth. This structural anomaly alters the way light passes through the stone, creating its distinctive pink hue.
The combination of size, colour and rarity has made pink diamonds among the most coveted gemstones in the world.
A gemstone with a remarkable history
The rough diamond was acquired in India during the 1950s and originated from the legendary Golconda region, renowned for producing some of history's most celebrated Type IIa diamonds.
Golconda has supplied exceptional gemstones for more than two millennia, including the famous 33-carat diamond owned by Elizabeth Taylor, which sold in 2011 for $8.8 million.
During the 1950s, the stone was acquired by the Italian jewellery house Bulgari and mounted in a ring, from which it later took its name.
Return after seven decades
According to Christie's, the Bulgari Pink had remained out of public view for more than 70 years before reappearing at auction this month.
Its rarity and long absence from the market generated significant interest among collectors from around the world.
Following the sale, Max Fawcett, Christie's global head of jewellery, described the gem as the "Mona Lisa of pink diamonds".
"Tonight we witnessed the sale of The Bulgari Pink, a spectacular 24-carat diamond that had not appeared publicly for more than seven decades," he said following the auction.
Comparison with other famous pink diamonds
The last pink diamond of comparable prominence to attract global attention was The Eternal Pink, which sold through Sotheby's in 2023 for $35 million.
That gemstone, known for its vivid bubblegum-pink colour, was discovered in a Botswana mine in 2020 before setting auction records.
For collectors, however, the Bulgari Pink's combination of rarity, provenance and historical significance helped secure its place among the most remarkable gemstones ever offered for public sale.
Source: Proto Thema
