Beau Sancy Diamond

The Geneva Auction houses just seem to have all the fun, don’t they? After Christie’s record breaking auction of Mrs. Lilly Safra’s jewels to benefit 32 of Mrs. Safra’s favorite charitable institutions, Sotheby’s was not to be outdone.

On Tuesday, Sotheby’s Geneva auctioned off the legendary Beau Sancy diamond for a little over $9 million, contributing to the auction’s world record total of $108,377,219. Sotheby’s bested the previous world record of $105 million, which it had set itself (again in Geneva) in 2012.

The gorgeous 35ct stone, owned by nobility belonging to 4 royal families, was used to reinforce international alliances and was occasionally pawned by its royal owners to settle national debt. We buy big diamonds, but we’ve never had a customer with a stone this size!

The diamond’s historical significance can be traced back to Marie de Medici, something Sotheby’s denotes by calling it “one of the most important historic diamonds ever to come to auction.”

David Bennet, Sotheby’s chairman of jewelry in Europe and the Middle East told MSNBC:

“The legendary Beau Sancy is a truly magical stone that has entranced generations of royal owners and continues to exert a powerful influence over all who see it. Its supreme historical importance was reflected tonight in the strength of the bidding and the remarkable result realized.”

You can read more about this remarkable auction here, and follow Raymond Lee Jewelers on Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest for always up-to-date jewelry industry news.

Liz for Raymond Lee Jewelers, your source for buying and selling diamond jewelry, luxury estate jewelry, engagement rings and designer jewelry.