The Rock (diamond)

The Rock is the world's largest white diamond ever auctioned. It is a nearly colorless 228.31 carat pear-shaped diamond mined in South Africa 2000. The diamond is described as larger than a golf ball, and it was auctioned in 2022 for 21.9 million USD.

Classification

The Rock is a 228.31-carat white diamond which has been graded by the Gemological Institute of America. It has G color, VS1 clarity. The color of white diamonds can range from D to Z: D-color is the highest grade for white diamonds, and it is the rarest and most expensive. The Rock is G-color, which is the fourth whitest level of white diamonds. It is the highest grade in the near-colorless color range and only professionals can see a slight tint of color in a G-colored diamond. The diamond is and it has dimensions of by . It is described as "larger than a golf ball.

History

The Rock was mined and polished in South Africa 2000. It is cut in a symmetrical pear-shape. The diamond was displayed in Dubai, Taipei and New York City before arriving at Christie's in Geneva for auction.

On May 11, 2022 Christie's Geneva auctioned the diamond and it was sold for 21.9 million USD. It was the largest white diamond ever auctioned. Previously the largest white diamond ever auctioned had a mass of 163.41 carats and realized a price of 33.7 million USD.

The owner was from North America and was anonymous. The ''New York Post'' described the sellers as a family of jewelry collectors who had the diamond made into a necklace at Cartier. The buyer who purchased the diamond at Christie's Geneva was an unnamed private collector.

See also

* Cullinan Diamond
* Diamond color
*Golden Eye Diamond
* Golden Jubilee Diamond
* Nassak Diamond
* The Enigma Diamond
*Tiffany Yellow Diamond
* List of diamonds

References

{{reflist, refs=
{{cite news , last1=Mobley , first1=Grant , title=The Rock: Largest White Diamond Ever Auctioned at Christie's Sells for $21.9 Million , url=https://www.naturaldiamonds.com/epic-diamonds/the-largest-white-diamond-in-history-to-be-auctioned-at-christies/?135 , access-date=27 May 2022 , publisher=The Natural Diamond Council , date=11 May 2022
{{cite news , last1=Palumbo , first1=Jacqui , title='The Rock,' the largest white diamond ever auctioned, falls short of expectations , url=https://www.cnn.com/style/article/the-rock-largest-white-diamond-auction/index.html#:~:text=A%20228.31%20carat%20white%20diamond,(%2430.2%20million)%20high%20estimate. , access-date=27 May 2022 , publisher=CNN , date=11 May 2022
{{cite news , title='The Rock,' the largest white diamond ever put up for auction, sells for more than $21 million , url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/05/12/the-rock-largest-white-diamond-ever-21-million/9745666002/ , access-date=27 May 2022 , agency=USA Today , publisher=Associated Press , date=12 May 2022
{{cite news , last1=Fried , first1=Michael , title=D Color Grade Diamonds , url=https://www.diamonds.pro/education/d-color-diamonds/ , access-date=27 May 2022 , publisher=The Diamond , date=25 May 2022
{{cite news , last1=Mordowanec , first1=Nick , title='Legendary' Rare White Diamond 'The Rock' Is Largest Ever to Be Auctioned , url=https://www.newsweek.com/legendary-rare-white-diamond-rock-largest-auctioned-1692536 , access-date=27 May 2022 , publisher=Newsweek , date=28 March 2022
{{cite news , title=Giant white diamond 'The Rock' makes debut in Dubai , url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220325-giant-white-diamond-the-rock-makes-debut-in-dubai , access-date=27 May 2022 , publisher=France 24 , date=25 March 2022
{{cite news , title='The Rock' diamond dazzles in Geneva , url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2305958/the-rock-diamond-dazzles-in-geneva , access-date=27 May 2022 , publisher=Bangkok Post , date=6 May 2022
{{cite news , title=Largest diamond 'The Rock' fetches $21.9M at auction , url=https://www.dailysabah.com/life/largest-diamond-the-rock-fetches-219m-at-auction/news , access-date=27 May 2022 , publisher=Daily Sabah , date=11 May 2022
{{cite news , last1=Cherner , first1=Jessica , title='The Rock,' the largest white diamond ever auctioned, sells for $21.9M , url=https://nypost.com/2022/05/11/the-rock-largest-white-diamond-ever-auctioned-sells-for-21-9m/ , access-date=27 May 2022 , publisher=NYP Holdings, Inc. , date=11 May 2022
{{cite news , last1=Porterfield , first1=Carlie , title=This $30 Million White Diamond Is The Largest To Ever Appear At Auction , url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2022/03/25/this-30-million-white-diamond-is-the-largest-to-ever-appear-at-auction/?sh=6697463825c4 , access-date=27 May 2022 , work=Forbes , date=25 March 2022

External links

Video of "The Rock" diamond

Diamonds originating in South Africa
Individual diamonds